Fertilizer and plant growth promoter to increase plant yield and method of increasing plant yield

ABSTRACT

A slow release carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer which includes: a nitrogen component selected from the group consisting of a urea compound, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate; a bicarbonate component selected from the group consisting of ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate; and a soluble carbohydrate component selected from the group consisting of a starch and a sugar, wherein the fertilizer is applied to increase crop yield and increase protein levels in plant products by placing the aforesaid fertilizer beneath the surface of soil on which is growing cultivated plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fertilizer comprising a carbohydrate, abicarbonate and a nitrogen fertilizer, and a method of growing plantsusing the fertilizer. The invention further relates to a plant growthpromoter comprising a carbohydrate and a bicarbonate, and a method ofgrowing plants using the plant growth promoter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to rising populations around the world and limited arable land forgrowing food, finding ways to improve food production is a seriousconcern. It is well known that plants need nitrogen, phosphorus,potassium, micronutrients, water and carbon dioxide to grow. Of thethree major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; nitrogen isneeded at the highest level to promote optimal growth. For exampleaccording to Subbaiah, et al, a N:P₂O₅:K₂O ratio of 4:2:1 is recommendedfor growing rice {Subbaiah, S. V., et al. “Studies on yield maximizationthrough balanced nutrient ratios in irrigated lowland rice.”International Rice Commission Newsletter (FAO), 50 (2001): 59-65}.However, the carbon required by plants such as a rice plant and itsgrain is much higher than its need for nitrogen, phosphorus, orpotassium. The required nitrogen is typically higher than forphosphorus, potassium and other nutrients. Measurements of 46 w/w % ormore carbon and only 1.3 w/w % nitrogen are common for rough rice (thewhole rice grain with the hull). These carbon and nitrogen values resultin a carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio for rough rice of 35:1. This high C:Nratio illustrates that the amount of carbon needed to promote plantgrowth and yield dramatically outweighs all of the other nutrients.

It is typically accepted that plants obtain carbon dioxide from thesurrounding air through the stomata in their leaves. However, the amountof carbon dioxide in air is extremely low (currently about 355 ppm).Carbon is a limiting nutrient in plant growth, and thus finding otherways to supply carbon dioxide to plants have been investigated foryears. It is well known that supplying gaseous CO₂ to plant leavesincreases yield and is a common practice for greenhouse horticulture.

When a plant seed first sprouts, the only nutrients and energy availablefor growth are stored in the seed. Initially, the roots form and thenthe leaves. The leaves of the small seedling have very little surfacearea, and photosynthesis is limited to the amount of energy the leavescan accept as well as carbon available to build new plant cells. If aplant is stimulated to produce early roots, it gives the plant a headstart that allows it to more efficiently take up nutrients includingcarbon that can be at the roots. The present invention uses bicarbonatesto stimulate the growth of plant roots early in their development byproviding carbon. The present invention also supplies plant roots withadditional uptake-available carbon and energy-rich carbohydrates topromote rapid growth that helps to overcome the low surface area ofearly leaves and therefore further increases plant growth.

It is known to grow algae and cyanobacteria, commonly referred to asblue-green algae, in a water regime, wherein the algae is suppliedcarbon dioxide either as gaseous CO₂ or as bicarbonate to dramaticallyincrease growth. Algae is also grown in the dark using sugar or starchas its energy and carbon source. Now, with a present invention a newfertilizer has been developed to supply energy and nutrients includingcarbon dioxide, to the roots of plants. Special attention has been paidto developing this fertilizer for plants grown in a water saturatedregime and to date this has been most effective. The present inventivefertilizer is greatly effective in growing hydrophilic plants includingrice, wild rice (genus: Zizania), sugar cane, water chestnuts, lotus,taro, water spinach, watercress, water celery, arrowroot, sago palm,nipa palm, marsh type or fen grasses such as Saccharum hybrids, andother biomass crops such as bald cypress and eucalyptus. The inventivefertilizer is effective in growing all types of plants. The plants canbe grown in soil or hydroponically. Preferred agricultural crops,include corn, wheat, and cotton.

Without being bound by any theory, the inventors believe the inventivefertilizer enhances root growth of the plant.

In the past, studies into supplying carbon dioxide to the roots ofplants have led to mixed results. Some of these studies have shownincreased root growth and improved nutrient uptake. U.S. Pat. No.5,044,117 (US '117) discloses a method of fertilization that suppliesgaseous carbon dioxide and oxygen to the roots of plants grownhydroponically to improve growth. The present invention provides carbondioxide and oxygen from bicarbonate to plant roots in a water regime butin contrast with US '117, the present novel fertilizers contain energyrich organic compounds as well as nitrogen, bicarbonates, and othercarbon compounds.

It is well known that rice grown in flooded conditions prefersammonium-based fertilizers. Due to anaerobic conditions under flood,soil microbes starved for oxygen tend to steal the oxygen from nitratefertilizers leading to loss of plant-available nitrogen as N₂. Hence,some fertilizers commonly used today to grow rice include urea, ammoniumbicarbonate, and ammonium sulfate.

Urea has been developed as an excellent fertilizer for use with manycrops because of its low cost and high nitrogen content. Urea in thepresence of water and urease catalyst (naturally occurring in soil)undergoes hydrolysis to produce ammonia and carbamate which furtherdecomposes to ammonia and carbon dioxide as shown in the followingequations:

(NH₂)₂CO+H₂O→NH₃+H₂NCOOH→2NH₃+CO₂  (1)

With the presence of water, the ammonia reacts to form ammonium by thefollowing reaction:

NH₃+H₂O→NH₄ ⁺+OH⁻  (2)

As can be seen from reactions (1) and (2), using urea as a fertilizeralso produces carbon dioxide. Shown in present FIG. 1 is a graph of therelationship between the form of dissolved carbon dioxide and solutionpH. This graph shows that when the pH of the solution is between 6.5 and10, the majority of the carbon dioxide in solution is as bicarbonate.Hence, urea used to grow plants under flooded or high moistureconditions slowly generates carbon dioxide which becomes available tothe plant as carbon dioxide or bicarbonate, depending on the pH of thesoil solution or flood water.

Ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) is a fertilizer commonly used in China togrow rice. By examining the formula for ammonium bicarbonate, it is easyto see that for each mole of nitrogen in ammonium bicarbonate, twice asmany moles of carbon are available as the carbon available in a nitrogenequivalent amount of urea. This makes ammonium bicarbonate an excellentsource of carbon and nitrogen as a plant growth promoter.

It is well known that fertilizer can experience nitrogen losses andtherefore decrease the efficiency in plant uptake of the fertilizer andthe potential yield of crops. For this reason, various specialtyfertilizers and special applications have been developed to improvenitrogen efficiency in plant uptake. Some of these include thedevelopment of sulfur coated urea, polymer coated urea, ureaformaldehyde fertilizers, fertilizers with urease inhibitors, andsupergranules with deep placement. For years, The InternationalFertilizer and Development Center (IFDC) has researched the benefits ofthe deep placement of supergranules of fertilizers for its slow releaseproperties in reducing nitrogen loss in rice cultivation (InternationalFertilizer Development Center et al. Proceedings of the Workshop on UreaDeep-Placement Technology, Bogor, Indonesia, September 1984. IFDC,Muscle Shoals, A L, 1985).

Chinese patents CN1240777A, CN1400196, and CN1408680A recognize theplant yield benefits of supplying gaseous carbon dioxide produced from asolid fertilizer placed in the soil. The ingredients in these solidfertilizers are designed to react with each other to release carbondioxide gas to plant leaves for plants grown in a covered or protectedenvironment such as in a greenhouse rather than supplying the carbon tothe plant roots as a bicarbonate in solution as in the presentfertilizer. CN1240777A combines ammonium bicarbonate with a solid acidmade by reacting sulfuric acid, nitric acid, lignite, and powderedphosphorus ore; CN1400196 uses calcium carbonate (limestone) as thecarbon dioxide source and combines it with sulfur and ammoniumphosphate; and CN1408680A uses ammonium bicarbonate as the carbondioxide source and combines it with bisulfates or bisulfites. Byproducing the carbon dioxide in gaseous form from the reaction of thefertilizer ingredients, the carbon in the fertilizers of these Chinesepatents is inefficient unless it is used in a contained environment likea greenhouse. The present inventive fertilizer holds the carbon insolution as a bicarbonate at the plant roots and therefore can be usedto make carbon available to plants in open fields. In addition, thepresent invention includes urea and alkali bicarbonates and other carbonsources such as starch, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, and wax in thefertilizer and these supply both additional carbon and energy to theplant. These additional carbon sources are not employed in any of theseChinese patents. Finally, the fertilizer of the present inventionprovides a measurable synergism among the components of the fertilizerto increase crop yield, improve efficiency of nitrogen uptake by theplant, improve nitrogen (protein) levels in plant products, and increaseplant uptake of carbon dioxide more than an additive effect.

Lowering fertilizer nitrogen losses when used in growing crops as aresult lowers NO_(x) emissions from growing those crops with nitrogenfertilizer and thereby the contribution to greenhouse gases is alsodecreased. The inventive fertilizer can lower nitrogen losses, therebyreducing undesirable greenhouse gases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective is to provide a novel fertilizer for increasing plantyield. A further objective is to provide a novel plant growth promoterfor increasing plant yield.

The invention includes a slow release carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogenfertilizer used to produce increased yields in crops, improve efficiencyof nitrogen uptake by the plant, improve nitrogen levels in plantproducts, and increase plant uptake of carbon in crops. The presentinvention provides energy and carbon in the form of plant availablecarbohydrates such as for instance starch and/or sugar to the plantroots early in the plant growth, supplies carbon dioxide to the roots ofplants in the form of a bicarbonate, and takes advantage of thefertilizer's ability to make available other carbon sources to theplant. The inventive fertilizer can be in solid, semi-solid, or liquidform as desired for the particular application and/or plant. The plantcan be grown in soil or hydroponically.

The inventive fertilizer includes a source of nitrogen, a bicarbonate,and an organic energy source. The nitrogen source can be anyconventional fertilizer source of nitrogen used to grow plants.Preferred sources of nitrogen include urea, ammonium bicarbonate,ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN),monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP) or acombination of these. The bicarbonate is preferably an alkalibicarbonate, such as potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Theorganic energy source can be a carbohydrate, such as starch or sugar.The inventive fertilizer can optionally contain additional carbonsources like wax, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid. This combinationof ingredients including nitrogen, bicarbonate, and organic energysources provides a measurable synergism demonstrated as unexpectedincrease in crop yield, improved efficiency of nitrogen uptake by theplant, improved nitrogen levels in plant products, and increased plantuptake of carbon dioxide.

The invention also comprises a plant growth promoter that includes abicarbonate component and an organic energy source. The bicarbonate ispreferably an alkali bicarbonate, such as potassium bicarbonate orsodium bicarbonate. The organic energy source can be a carbohydrate,such as starch or sugar. The inventive plant growth promoter canoptionally contain additional carbon sources like wax, magnesiumstearate, and stearic acid. This combination of ingredients includingbicarbonate, and organic energy sources provides a measurable synergismdemonstrated as unexpected increase in crop yield, improved efficiencyof nitrogen uptake by the plant, improved nitrogen levels in plantproducts, and increased plant uptake of carbon dioxide.

The present invention is free of components unsuitable for use to growplants. Hence, the fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter is free ofcomponents harmful to humans or animals such as lithium and heavymetals. For this invention free means that the levels meet the limitsset by government for land application and that the levels are belowaccepted levels that are shown to cause harm to humans or animalsconsuming the crop.

If soil tests show the soil to be deficient in one or more nutrientsthen a starter fertilizer that contains typically a small amount ofnitrogen with other primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, andmicronutrients at the levels indicated by the soil test can be applied.This starter fertilizer can be applied at, before, or just afterplanting and prior to the application of the present, inventivefertilizer. Alternatively, the starter fertilizer can also be appliedwith or as part of the inventive fertilizer. This starter fertilizeralso includes other nutrients or micronutrients that can be needed forthe crop based on the results of soil testing.

The inventive carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer and/or plantgrowth promoter preferably is applied as a granule, tablet orsupergranule (very large granule made by rotary pellet machines in thesame manner as range cubes) beneath the soil surface before or after theplants have sprouted. The fertilizer ideally works for crops such asrice, wild rice (genus: Zizania), sugar cane, water chestnuts, lotus,taro, water spinach, watercress, water celery, arrowroot, sago palm,nipa palm, marsh-type or fen grasses such as Saccharum hybrids, andother biomass crops such as bald cypress and eucalyptus grown underflooded or high moisture conditions; and the inventive fertilizer and/orplant growth promoter is applied just before, at, or after flooding thesoil with water.

The inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter also provides anincrease in yield when used to grow crops not grown in a waterenvironment such as corn, cotton, wheat, cassava, sugar beets, cotton,energy grasses such as Miscanthus, Pennisetum purpureum, Switchgrass,and other prairie grasses, and other crops.

Thus, the present invention includes methods of applying the present,inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter, including a doubleapplication of fertilizers, i.e., the application of a starterfertilizer followed by the application of the present, inventivefertilizer and/or plant growth promoter, or applying the starterfertilizer and inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promotersimultaneously. The fertilizer and/or plant growth promotor can beapplied above or below the surface, as blends with each other, and/orblends with other common components conventionally blended withfertilizers, in any desired form, such as liquids, solids, semi-solids,and dispersions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—shows a graph of the fraction of various carbonate forms ofcarbon dioxide found in solution at atmospheric pressure as a functionof pH, graph from Utah State University, www.usu.edu.

FIG. 2—shows the greenhouse layout for Example 1 Tests of air/carbondioxide bubbled to root zone of flooded rice.

FIG. 3—shows the layout of Example 3 greenhouse test containers.

FIG. 4—shows a graph of the Example 3 Floodwater pH.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a slow releasecarbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer that can be used to produceincreased yields in crops; improve efficiency of nitrogen uptake by theplant; improve nitrogen levels in plant products, such as for example,grain; and increase plant uptake of carbon in crops. The presentinvention provides energy and carbon in the form of carbohydrates suchas for instance starch or sugar to the plant early in the plant growth,by supplying carbon dioxide to the roots of plants in the form of abicarbonate, and by taking advantage of the fertilizer's ability to makeavailable other carbon sources to the plant.

The inventive fertilizer comprises a source of nitrogen, a bicarbonate,and an energy source. The nitrogen source can be any conventionalfertilizer source of nitrogen used to grow plants. Preferred sources ofnitrogen include urea, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, ammoniumnitrate, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), andurea ammonium nitrate (UAN), or a combination of these. The bicarbonateincludes ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and sodiumbicarbonate, wherein preferably the bicarbonate is one or more alkalibicarbonate such as potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Theenergy source comprises a carbohydrate such as starch or sugar as carbonand energy sources. The inventive fertilizer optionally comprises anadditional carbon source, such as wax, magnesium stearate, or stearicacid. This combination of ingredients provides a measurable synergismdemonstrated as unexpected increase in crop yield, improved efficiencyof nitrogen uptake by the plant, improved nitrogen (protein) levels inplant products, and increased plant uptake of carbon dioxide.

An alternative invention comprises a plant growth promoter that includesa bicarbonate component and an organic energy source. The bicarbonate ispreferably an alkali bicarbonate, such as potassium bicarbonate orsodium bicarbonate. The organic energy source can be a carbohydrate,such as starch or sugar. The inventive plant growth promoter canoptionally contain additional carbon sources like wax, magnesiumstearate, and stearic acid. This combination of ingredients includingbicarbonate, and organic energy sources provides a measurable synergismdemonstrated as unexpected increase in crop yield, improved efficiencyof nitrogen uptake by the plant, improved nitrogen levels in plantproducts, and increased plant uptake of carbon dioxide.

The fertilizer and/or growth promotor can also include any desiredadditional components that are added to conventional fertilizers, suchas fillers, binders, flow promoters, microorganisms, antifungals,time-release ingredients, or other.

The slow release properties of the inventive fertilizer and/or plantgrowth promoter result from the compact shape but relatively large sizeincluding tablets and supergranules (large granules produced by any ofthe well-known granulation processes), the fertilizer's strength inholding together, and the deep placement of the fertilizer and/or plantgrowth promoter. In discussing the supergranule form for example, thesize of the fertilizer supergranule provides a large volume to surfacearea ratio that slows the rate of solubility. The supergranule'sstrength prevents the fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter fromquickly breaking apart and the placement of the fertilizer and/or plantgrowth promoter below the soil surface slows the dispersion rate of thefertilizer and/or plant growth promoter.

An alternative form of the fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter is asa package granule. The package granule comprises a water permeable,water soluble, or bio-degradable outside layer containing within thecomponents of the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter. Thecontained components can be in the form of a solid, liquid, or slurry.When the package granule encounters water or soil moisture or thepackage biodegrades the components start dissolving or dispersing toform a region around the package granule having a higher concentrationof components compared to the components found in other areas of thesoil. This higher concentration of components around the package granuleslows the solubility or dispersion of the contents of the packagegranule.

Plants can be grown using the inventive fertilizer or plant growthpromoter, or combinations of both the inventive fertilizer and the plantgrowth promoter.

For this description, improved nitrogen efficiency means that nitrogenloss from the fertilizer to the atmosphere is reduced; that nitrogensupplied by the fertilizer is available to the plant for a longer periodof time; and that the plant takes up more nitrogen than is supplied bythe fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter. Improved carbon uptakeefficiency means that plants are able to utilize available carbonsources in the fertilizer, soil, and atmosphere more than plants grownunder similar conditions with fertilizers supplying the same levels ofprimary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), secondarynutrients (sulfur, calcium, and magnesium), and the same level ofmicronutrients such as zinc, boron, iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum,and selenium. The plant utilization of carbon is measured as increasedroot mass, increased foliage mass, and when present, increased yield ofplant product, such as for example grain.

For this description, crop yield refers to the weight of plant productper unit growing area, wherein the plant product is the part of theplant that is valuable as a commercial product, such as grain forexample. Crop yield is typically expressed as kg/hectare,tonnes/hectare, bushels/acre, or pounds/acre depending on the type ofcrop grown.

For this description, the amount of protein in the crop plant productrefers to the weight percent of protein found in the crop plant product,such as grain for example. The protein level in the plant product can bequantified by measuring the weight % of nitrogen in the crop plantproduct.

For this description, biodegradable means that the material is capableof undergoing physical and biological decomposition such that at least90% of the material ultimately decomposes into carbon dioxide (CO₂),biomass, and water in a maximum 48 months.

Ammonium bicarbonate is chosen as the preferred solid form ofnitrogen/carbon dioxide to apply since it provides nitrogen with arelatively high carbon dioxide to nitrogen ratio. Compared to urea,ammonium bicarbonate delivers twice the carbon dioxide per mole ofnitrogen. Potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate are also used assources of carbon dioxide. Choosing the bicarbonate form rather than thecarbonate form allows the application of the most carbon dioxide for agiven mole of alkali metal and at the same time helps avoiddetrimentally high soil pH.

At planting and prior to or with the application of the presentcarbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer or the plant growthpromoter, a starter fertilizer can be applied to the soil days before,at, or shortly after planting. This starter fertilizer containspreferably up to 50.4 kg/hectare (45 pounds/acre), more preferably up to44.8 kg/hectare (40 pounds/acre), more preferably 16.8-39.2 kg/hectare(15-35 pounds/acre), and most preferably 22.4-33.6 kg/hectare (20-30pounds/acre) of starter nitrogen in the form of a nitrogen fertilizersuch as urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate,mono ammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), urea-ammoniumnitrate (UAN), ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium nitrate. In addition,the starter fertilizer can include other nutrients and micronutrientsrecommended based on the crop being grown and the soil test results onthe soil used to grow the crop. Other nutrients in the starterfertilizer recommended based on soil testing can include phosphorus fromfertilizers such as MAP, DAP, triple super phosphate and superphosphate; potassium from fertilizers such as potassium chloride andpotassium sulfate; sulfur from elemental sulfur and a variety of sulfatefertilizers; and micronutrients such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, boron,manganese, iron, and more.

The starter fertilizer can comprise one or more of the followingnutrients:

-   -   1) nitrogen compounds selected from the group consisting of        urea, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium        nitrate, diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate        (MAP), potassium nitrate, ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium        nitrate;    -   2) phosphorous compounds selected from the group consisting of        triple super phosphate, super phosphate, diammonium phosphate,        monoammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium        phosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and potassium        metaphosphate.    -   3) potassium compounds selected from the group consisting of        potassium chloride, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate,        monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tetrapotassium        pyrophosphate, and potassium metaphosphate.    -   4) secondary nutrients, and micronutrients sources selected from        the group consisting of elemental sulfur, calcium carbonate        (limestone), dolomite, gypsum, shell, marl, iron sulfate, iron        oxides, chelated iron, iron nitrate, zinc sulfate, zinc oxide,        chelated zinc, zinc-oxysulfate, zinc carbonate, copper oxide,        copper sulfate, copper nitrate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium        sulfate, magnesium oxide, sodium borate, boric acid, chelated        manganese EDTA, calcium sulfate, calcium nitrate, calcium oxide,        magnesium carbonate, selenium sulfate and selenium oxide, sodium        tetraborate decahydrate (borax), sodium tetraborate        pentahydrate, sodium tetraborate-pentaborate, colemanite, boric        acid, ammonium molybdate, sodium molybdate, molybdic oxide, and        manganese sulfate.    -   5) liquid nutrient sources selected from the group consisting of        urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN), ammonia, bio slurries, and other        slurries and suspensions.    -   6) organic nutrient sources selected from the group consisting        of manures, animal litters, and others.

Unless otherwise stated in this description, all percent amounts areweight percent based on the total weight of the composition. Thenitrogen source in the carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer is acombination of preferably up to 90% urea, more preferably up to 75%urea, more preferably 2%-55% urea, and most preferably 5%-45% urea withpreferably up to 90% ammonium bicarbonate, more preferably up to 85%ammonium bicarbonate, more preferably 10%-65% ammonium bicarbonate, andmost preferably 15%-55% ammonium bicarbonate but can include othersources of nitrogen such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, andpotassium nitrate, monoammonium phosphate diammoniumum phosphate, toname a few. The urea employed in the inventive fertilizer can besubstituted or supplemented with compounds selected from the groupconsisting of ureaform, urea formaldehyde, methylene urea, methylenediurea and dimethylenetriurea.

In addition to nitrogen, the inventive fertilizer includes alkalibicarbonates such as potassium bicarbonate up to 80%, preferably 10-80%,and sodium bicarbonate up to 80%, preferably 10-80%, and as acombination of the two alkali bicarbonates totaling up to 80%,preferably 10-80%.

Most of the carbon in the inventive fertilizer can be in the form ofcarbon dioxide from bicarbonate in the fertilizer. However, the carboncan also be from organic compounds that also provide energy to the plantearly in the plant growth. These carbon energy sources are preferably ascarbohydrates and in particular include soluble carbohydrates such assugars and starches. Some of these sugars include glucose, sucrose,fructose, maltose, galactose, corn syrup, and lactose. Starches caninclude corn starch, rice starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch, cassavastarch, cornmeal, and potato starch, and others. The carbohydrate can bepresent in any desired amount in the fertilizer, preferably from 0.1% to35%, more preferably from 0.2% to 25%, and most preferably from 0.5% to15%.

The inventive plant growth promoter includes alkali bicarbonates such aspotassium bicarbonate at preferably 1% to 99%, more preferably 10-80%,and most preferably 20% to 70%; or sodium bicarbonate at preferably 1%to 99%, more preferably 10-80%, and most preferably 20% to 70%; or as acombination of the two alkali bicarbonates at preferably 1% to 99%, morepreferably 10-80%, and most preferably 20% to 70%.

Much of the carbon in the plant growth promoter can be in the form ofcarbon dioxide from bicarbonate in the fertilizer. However, the carboncan also be from organic compounds that also provide energy to the plantearly in the plant growth. These carbon energy sources are preferably ascarbohydrates and in particular include soluble carbohydrates such assugars and starches. Some of these sugars include glucose, sucrose,fructose, maltose, galactose, corn syrup, and lactose. Starches caninclude corn starch, rice starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch, cassavastarch, cornmeal, and potato starch, to name a few. The carbohydrate canbe present in any desired amount in the growth promoter, preferably from0.1% to 99%, more preferably from 1% to 50%, and most preferably from 1%to 35%.

For this description, early in the plant growth means before the plantfoliage weight reaches 10% of the plant foliage weight at harvest.

The inventive fertilizer and plant growth promoter each separately canbe formed into granules, tablets, or supergranules using bio-degradablebinders, lubricants, glidants, and antiadherents that provide additionalcarbon for uptake by plant roots. These binders, lubricants, glidants,and antiadherents include waxes such as up to 20% paraffin wax, up to10% stearic acid, up to 10% magnesium stearate, and up to 10% cornstarch. A preferable amount of binders, lubricants, glidants, andantiadherents, would be up to 15% paraffin wax, up to 5% stearic acid,up to 5% magnesium stearate, and up to 5% corn starch; and the mostpreferable amount is 1%-13% paraffin wax, 0.2%-1.5% stearic acid,0.2%-1.5% magnesium stearate, and 0.2%-1.5% corn starch. Some otherpossible binders include sugars such as corn syrup, maltodextrin,sucrose, lactose, and glucose; starches like tapioca starch; gums likegelatin; synthetic polymers like polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP),polyethylene glycol (PEG); cellulose and cellulose derivatives likemethylcellulose and ethylcellulose; and waxes including paraffin wax,beeswax, palm wax, and soy bean wax. Other possible lubricants,glidants, and anitadherents include; talc, corn starch, colloidalsilica, boric acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium lauryl sulfateglyceryl palmitostearate, glyceryl behenate, sodium benzoate, sodiumoleate, and sodium stearyl fumarate.

The fertilizer and plant growth promoter each separately can be placedbeneath the soil 1.3-25.4 cm (0.5-10 inches) deep and more preferably5.1-12.7 cm (2-5 inches) deep just before, at, or after flooding forrice or other crops grown under flooded or high moisture conditions suchas wild rice (genus: Zizania), sugar cane, water chestnuts, lotus, taro,water spinach, watercress, water celery, arrowroot, sago palm, nipapalm, marsh-type or fen grasses such as Saccharum hybrids, and otherbiomass crops such as bald cypress and eucalyptus grown under flooded orhigh moisture conditions. The inventive fertilizer and/or growthpromoter can be applied just before, at, or after flooding the soil withwater. Flooding can be as high as 30.5 cm and preferably less than 10.2cm. The depth of the fertilizer and/or growth promoter can be chosenbased on the depth that provides availability of carbon, nitrogen, andenergy to the plant roots and minimizes the loss of these nutrients tothe atmosphere as gases. Ideally, the depth is chosen to make thefertilizer available in the root zone of the plant early in the plantgrowth preferably up to 60 days after planting and most preferably 5-30days after planting. When planting a seedling, the fertilizer and/orgrowth promoter can be placed at the time of planting.

With the present invention, carbon dioxide supplied to the rootsdramatically improves the yield in plants grown in a water regime incultivated soils including soils present in fields and greenhousesthrough the use of a carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer. Thefertilizer and/or plant growth promoter can be used to provide a slowrelease of carbon and nitrogen by using a granule, tablet, orsupergranule preferably 0.15-5.10 cm (0.125-2 inches) in diameter, morepreferably 0.64-2.50 cm (0.25-1 inch) in diameter, and most preferably1.3-1.9 cm (0.5-0.75 inch) in diameter. A blend of granules and/ortablets can also be used. The fertilizer and/or growth promoter providesan initial energy source for the young plant, results in a slow rise inpH early in the plant growth and also improves the efficiency in plantuptake of the carbon dioxide from the fertilizer and/or growth promoterby holding the carbon in solution as a bicarbonate.

As shown in the following examples, rice grown with the inventivefertilizer and/or plant growth promoter shows unexpected and significantimprovement in total nitrogen utilization and total carbon uptake byplants. Because of the increased carbon utilization in rice, thefertilizer is a form of carbon sink or recycler for lowering carbondioxide in the atmosphere.

The USDA published average rice yields in 2017 for Arkansas as 8,403kg/hectare (7,490 lbs./acre) (“Rice: Acreage, Yield, Production, Price,and Value.” United States Department of Agriculture NationalAgricultural Statistics Service Delta Regional Office: Arkansas, Jun.30, 2017. www.nass.usda.gov/ar/). As comparison, our greenhouse studieswith a particularly effective example of the inventive fertilizer(KBC+ABC-mid-E of Example 2) comprised of 58% ammonium bicarbonate, 26%potassium bicarbonate, 13% paraffin wax, 1% corn starch, 1 magnesiumstearate, and 1% steric acid produced a surprising yield of 17,000kg/hectare (15,100 lbs./acre). This fertilizer was applied as a buriedsupergranule early in the plant growth and after applying a starterfertilizer.

For additional comparison, another particularly effective example of theinventive fertilizer (2.4 of see Example 6) was comprised of 10.5% urea,27.3% ammonium bicarbonate, 58.8% sodium bicarbonate, 1.73% sucrose, and1.73% corn starch. This fertilizer was applied as a package granuleearly in the plant growth and after applying a starter fertilizer. Theresulting yield was a completely unexpected 18,300 kg/hectare (16,300lbs./acre).

As demonstrated by the following examples, our inventive fertilizer andgrowth promoter, and method of application produces unexpectedly highrice yields. The inventive fertilizer and growth promotor, and method ofapplication can surprisingly produce rice yield of 8,000-20,000kg/hectare (7,140-17,800 lbs/acre), more preferably 10,000-20,000kg/hectare (8,920-17,800 lbs/acre), more preferably 13,000-20,000kg/hectare (11,600-17,800 lbs/acre), and most preferably 15,000-20,000kg/hectare (13,400-17,800 lbs/acre).

A particularly effective fertilizer of the invention (R5.L of Example 3)was used to grow rice from seed that was planted immediately afterapplying a starter fertilizer of 68.6 kg/hectare (61.2 pounds/acre)urea, 685 kg/hectare (611 pounds/acre) super phosphate, 301 kg/hectare(269 pounds/acre) potassium chloride, 48.9 kg/hectare (43.6 pounds/acre)ZnSO₄.7H₂O, and 2808 kg/hectare (2505 pounds/acre) MgSO₄.7H₂O. Theinventive fertilizer was a nearly spherical 1.9 cm (0.75 in) diametercompressed tablet containing 9.13% urea; 23.71% ammonium bicarbonate;51.15% sodium bicarbonate; 13% paraffin wax; and 1% each of corn starch,magnesium stearate, and stearic acid. The fertilizer tablets wereapplied to grow rice at a rate of 1914 kg/hectare (1707 pounds/acre).The fertilizer tablet was placed 7.6-10.2 cm (3-4 inches) beneath thesoil surface, 14 days after planting the seed when the plants hadreached the four leaf stage and just after the rice was flooded. Theresulting rough rice yield from this fertilizer was 59.3% more than therough rice yield from rice plants grown using 1.9 cm diameter ureatablet fertilizer that received the same starter fertilizer, anequivalent amount of nitrogen and the same timing and depth of placementof the tablets. This particularly effective fertilizer also showed anincrease of 57.9% in total nitrogen uptake by the plants, an increase of10.4% in protein content in the rough rice, and an increase of 59.8% intotal carbon uptake by the rough rice as compared to the control.

A particularly effective plant growth promoter of the invention, SBC-lowE (Example 2), was used to grow rice from seed that was plantedimmediately after applying a starter fertilizer of 68.6 kg/hectare (61.2pounds/acre) urea, 233 kg/hectare (208 pounds/acre) triple superphosphate, 302 kg/hectare (269 pounds/acre) potassium chloride, 27.4kg/hectare (24.4 pounds/acre) ZnSO₄.7H₂O, and 2811 kg/hectare (2505pounds/acre) MgSO₄.7H₂O. The inventive plant growth promoter wascylindrical in shape and was a compressed tablet containing 94% sodiumbicarbonate; 13% paraffin wax; and 1% each of corn starch, magnesiumstearate, and stearic acid. The plant growth promoter tablets wereapplied to grow rice where the plant growth promoter application ratewas 1165 kg/hectare (1039 pounds/acre). The plant growth promoter tabletwas placed 7.6-10.2 cm (3-4 inches) beneath the soil surface 14 daysafter planting the seed and just after the rice was flooded. At thistime, 350 kg/hectare (312 lbs/acre) of urea was also buried beneath thesoil surface separately from the inventive plant growth promoter. Theresulting rough rice yield from the rice grown with this plant growthpromoter was 15.6% more than the rough rice yield from rice plants grownas the baseline test for Example 2.

When used to grow rice, the carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizerand/or plant growth promoter provides an unexpected increase in cropyield of 10%-100% or more, an increase in carbon uptake of 10%-100% ormore, an increase in nitrogen uptake of 10%-100% or more, and anincrease in protein levels in the rough rice of 2%-15%, more preferably5-20% or more, compared to crops grown in the same soil without theinventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter.

Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is of concern for humanhealth, our climate, and the balance of ecosystems. According to a studyat the Harvard School of Public Health (Myers, S. S., et al. “Rising CO₂threatens human nutrition.” Nature 510 (Jun. 5, 2014): 139-142), riceplants grown with elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide produced rice withlower protein levels. However, the present invention shows an unexpectedbenefit that with increased carbon uptake by the rice plant there is acorresponding increase of 10% or more in the protein levels in the rice,compared to rice grown in the same soil without the inventive fertilizerand/or growth promoter.

The increase in carbon uptake efficiency of the plant carries with it acompletely unexpected increase in nitrogen uptake efficiency andelevated protein levels in the plant products. Without being bound byany theory, the present inventors hypothesize that this surprisingsynergism between urea, ammonium bicarbonate, and alkali bicarbonatesactivates the carbon from other sources like the soil and thefertilizer. The inventors further propose that the early release ofcarbon dioxide in the root zone by the ammonium bicarbonate or alkalibicarbonate triggers enhanced early root growth. Additionally, thesoluble carbohydrates in the inventive fertilizer provide bothadditional plant available carbon and plant available energy early inplant growth when the low surface area of plant leaves limits theavailable carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide and energy from thesun. Later the pH of the solution in the plant root zone begins to riseand the carbon dioxide is then in solution as bicarbonate. The roots areable to take up bicarbonate and use it to produce additional plant mass.The use of ammonium bicarbonate or ammonium sulfate provides animmediate source of nitrogen as ammonium (NH₄+) for the plant.

The slow release of the alkali bicarbonate by the fertilizer, preventspH values that are deleterious to the plant but maintains the pH highenough to prevent the loss of carbon dioxide as gas. The anaerobicenvironment also slows the hydrolysis of the urea and therefore improvesthe nitrogen efficiency. The hydrogen and oxygen from the bicarbonate isavailable to the urea and eventually converts the urea to carbon dioxideand ammonia making additional carbon dioxide available to the plant.Because the fertilizer is placed deep in the soil, the ammonia does notreadily escape. Instead it quickly dissolves in the surrounding water toform ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), again raising the pH of the solution andproducing a slow release of carbon dioxide that is held in solution asbicarbonate. Over time, plant and soil activity causes the pH to slowlydrop while additional carbon is released to the plant roots from othercarbon sources in the fertilizer. The balance between the correct levelsof urea, ammonium, initial energy compound, carbon, and bicarbonate atthe optimal pH produces a synergistic effect in the water of the rootzone that provides an ideal environment to increase crop yield, increasecarbon uptake efficiency, increase nitrogen uptake efficiency, andincrease plant product protein levels.

An effective method of the invention includes the following:

1) Performing soil tests to identify primary nutrient, secondarynutrient, and micronutrient deficiencies; 2) Applying starter nutrientsto the soil early in the crop growth at the levels recommended for thecrop being grown and based on the expected yield per acre and the soiltest results; 3) Applying the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growthpromoter to the soil early in the crop growth before, at, with, or afterapplying the starter nutrients by burying the fertilizer and/or plantgrowth promoter, side applying the fertilizer and/or plant growthpromoter, broadcasting the fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter,injecting the fertilizer and/or plant growth promoter, spraying thefertilizer and/or plant growth promoter, or any combination of these atthe levels recommended for the crop being grown and based on theexpected yield per acre and the soil test results; 5) when the plantsare grown in a water regime, applying the inventive fertilizer and/orplant growth promoter just before, with, or just after water is appliedto the soil or rainfall occurs.

The Examples of the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promotershow the following measureable synergisms:

When used to grow rice, the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growthpromoter provides an unexpected and dramatic increase in crop yield (seeTable 4 of Example 1, Table 7B of Example 2, and Table 11 of Example 3).This increase in crop yield is more than would be expected if supplyingjust gaseous carbon dioxide to the roots while applying all other plantnutrients and micronutrients at the same levels (Example 1) againshowing an effective synergism among the fertilizer ingredients.

Rice grown with the inventive fertilizer shows unexpected andsignificant improvement in total carbon uptake efficiency by the plantsdemonstrating that a beneficial interaction occurred with the fertilizerof the invention. Example 3 rice plants grown with the inventivefertilizer took up 59.8% more carbon in their rough rice than the riceplants grown with the control fertilizer (see Table 15). Because of theincreased carbon utilization in rice, the fertilizer is a form of carbonsink or recycler for lowering carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Rice grown with the inventive fertilizer shows unexpected andsignificant improvement in total nitrogen utilization by the riceplants. The total nitrogen uptake by the rice plants grown in Example 3using the inventive fertilizer was 57.9% more than the total nitrogenuptake for the rice plants grown using the control fertilizer of thesame example (Table 14). Also, the total nitrogen uptake in the Example3 rough rice grown with the fertilizer of the present invention showed a76.5% increase over the total nitrogen uptake in the Example 3 roughrice that was grown with the control fertilizer (Table 12). This shows adramatic improvement in nitrogen uptake efficiency for the invention.

Surprisingly, the fertilizer of the present invention produced rice withmuch higher levels of protein than for the control which was completelyunexpected. Since the rice grown with the inventive fertilizer was grownwith elevated carbon dioxide, the protein levels were expected to belower than the rice grown with the control fertilizer. Example 3demonstrated up to a 10.4% increase in protein level in the grain overthe protein levels for the rice grown with just urea (Table 12), and anincrease of 12.3% was seen from Test 2.4 shown in Table 31.

Introducing elevated carbon dioxide to the roots of plants improves theearly formation of plant roots. At 24 days of growth, the roots for therice plants of Example 1 receiving 2.0% CO₂ in air bubbled into the rootzone showed a 65% increase in mass over the roots of the plantsreceiving either air alone or 0.5% CO₂ in air (see Table 2).

Carbon dioxide benefits the roots of paddy rice plants through theentire growing season. In Example 1, for all of the plants grown whilereceiving elevated carbon dioxide at their roots, the average rootweights at harvest were higher than for those grown while receiving justair at their roots (see Table 3).

There was an observed upper limit to the amount of carbon dioxide thatwas beneficial to the plant when it was delivered to the roots. ForExample 1 (see Table 4), the rough rice yields for rice plants receivingelevated carbon dioxide were higher than the plants receiving just airwith the exception of the plants receiving the highest level of carbondioxide, 5.0% carbon dioxide mixed with air.

Example 1 demonstrates that supplying carbon dioxide to the roots as agas, does not provide the synergism that is demonstrated by theinventive fertilizer. The plants receiving carbon dioxide at the rootsshowed a percent increase in total nitrogen uptake of up to 8.33% on Day24 (see Table 2) which is very small compared to the percent increase atharvest in the total nitrogen uptake of 57.9% for the most effectiveinventive fertilizer (Table 14).

Example 2 demonstrates that providing additional carbon dioxide to theroots of rice as bicarbonate improves the yield (see Table 7A and Table7B).

All but one of the containers in Example 2 with an application offertilizer and/or plant growth promoter with elevated carbon dioxidefrom bicarbonates produced rough rice yields that were greater than thecontrols receiving fertilizer containing just the carbon dioxide fromurea (see Table 7A and Table 7B).

The inventive fertilizer containing ammonium bicarbonate combined withpotassium bicarbonate containing 2.7 times the carbon dioxide as urea,produced the highest crop yield for Example 2 with an increase of 29.2%over the crop yield for the plants receiving urea only as the nitrogensource (see Table 7B).

The fertilizer that contained sodium bicarbonate in the tablet and nonitrogen source in the tablet (SBC-low-E) supplied carbon dioxide to theroots of plants at 3 times the level found in urea alone (see Table 7B).These Example 2 plants produced a yield that was 15.6% more than theurea alone. The SBC-low-E plants received the same amount and timing ofurea, as well as the same amount and timing of the other fertilizersincluding potassium chloride, triple super phosphate, and zinc sulfateas were given to the control in Container C-E.

Using an alkali metal bicarbonate in the fertilizer provides anadditional benefit over not using it. As seen in Table 7A and Table 7Bof Example 2, the only fertilizer that did not show improved crop yieldswith higher levels of carbon dioxide as bicarbonate was the ammoniumbicarbonate fertilizer that did not include an alkali metal bicarbonate.This is also shown in Example 3 (see Table 11) where the ammoniumbicarbonate without an alkali metal bicarbonate (ABC-2) does not providea significant increase in crop yield.

In Example 3, all of the plants supplied fertilizer with an alkalibicarbonate had a total nitrogen uptake that exceeded the plantsreceiving just urea (see Table 14). The combination of urea, ammoniumbicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate provides a synergism as an increasedcrop yield that was not seen in the yield from any of the othercombinations of ingredients. In Example 3, a quite unexpected increasein crop yield of almost 60% was seen from the use of urea, ammoniumbicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate together (ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5). Theincrease for this combination was almost twice the increase in cropyield from the urea with sodium bicarbonate at almost the same level ofcarbon dioxide (Urea+SBC-4). This illustrates that for the testsperformed in Example 3, the synergy producing the higher crop yielddepends on the use of urea with ammonium bicarbonate and an alkalibicarbonate since the carbon in all forms was at essentially the samelevel in these two fertilizers and all crop nutrients (nitrogen,potassium, phosphorus) and secondary nutrients and micronutrients weresupplied at the same level. An interaction occurred between thecombination of ingredients and ingredient levels.

The formulation of the inventive fertilizer provides an unexpectedincrease in nitrogen uptake associated with the additional carbonsupplied to the plant and shows a unique synergism that makes additionalnitrogen available to the plant. In Example 3, only 1.40 g of nitrogenper container was supplied directly as a combination of starterfertilizer and inventive fertilizer. However, the plants in thecontainers with the most effective fertilizer of the present fertilizertook up 2.59 g of nitrogen (Table 14). Since this additional nitrogenwas not supplied by the added fertilizers, without being bound by anytheory, it is believed that the present fertilizer made nitrogenavailable to the plant from either the soil or the atmosphere.

Carbon supplied as elemental carbon does not have the same effect asusing bicarbonates. In Example 3 where graphite was applied as a sourceof elemental carbon at the roots, there was a negligible increase inyield (see Table 11). As seen in Example 3 (Table 17B) the sodium uptakeby the rice is not affected by the elevated levels of sodium in theinventive fertilizer and therefore is not considered a health risk forthose eating the rice.

Supplying energy early in the plant growth in the form of a carbohydratealong with carbon from an alkali bicarbonate source provides asurprising increase in yield not seen when the carbohydrate is notpresent. Example 6 shows an increase in yield of 38% for the SBC-3.5formulation with cornstarch and sugar as compared to urea without anycarbohydrates (see Table 27). For all of the tests in Example 6, thetests using fertilizer containing bicarbonates with carbohydrateproduced higher yields than using fertilizer containing urea only (nocarbohydrates or bicarbonates). In contrast, merely adding carbohydrateswith the urea actually decreased the yield (see Table 27).

If an alkali metal bicarbonate is used in the fertilizer, the fertilizershould be buried. In Example 4 when the inventive fertilizer containingan alkali metal was not buried but rather applied to the flood waters,the plants either died or were stunted.

The present invention will be demonstrated with reference to thefollowing examples, which are of an illustrative nature only and whichare to be construed as non-limiting.

EXAMPLES

In the below Examples 1-4, the following abbreviations are used to referto the compounds in the example fertilizer formulations:

-   -   ABC—ammonium bicarbonate    -   KBC—potassium bicarbonate    -   SBC—sodium bicarbonate    -   TSP—triple super phosphate    -   SP—super phosphate

The soils used for each of the examples were tested for pH, P, K, Ca,Mg, S, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, N, and C. The results of these tests forthe soils used for Examples 1-4 are presented in Table 1. The samplelabeled A-2 was from the soil used for Example 1, Example 2, and Example4. Samples A-3 and A-4 were duplicate soil samples for the soil used forExample 3.

TABLE 1 Soil Test Results (performed by the University of Arkansas,Fayetteville, Arkansas) Sample ID pH P K mg/kg A-2 6.6 33.3 65 A-3 5.714.6 60 A-4 5.7 13.0 65 Sample ID Ca Mg S mg/kg A-2 1231 45 20.7 A-3 63450 27.6 A-4 608 51 27.2 Sample ID Na Fe Mn mg/kg A-2 7.5 119 209 A-3 7.093 156 A-4 10.4 95 164 Sample ID Zn Cu B mg/kg A-2 3.9 0.7 0.9 A-3 3.75.7 0.45 A-4 2.1 2.0 0.41 Sample Total Total ID N C LOI % A-2 0.09781.2032 2.57 A-3 0.0536 0.7274 N/A A-4 0.0485 0.7409 N/A

Example 1: Carbon Dioxide and Air Bubbled into Roots

Example 1 tests were conducted as a baseline to test whether carbondioxide alone delivered to the roots of rice plants improves the roughrice yield and the root growth. For this example Oryza sativa long grainrice variety LaKast™ seed treated with CruiserMaxx® (an insecticide andfungicide) was carefully selected as representative of all rice growncommercially and provides an excellent model for testing commercialrice.

As will be shown by the data results for Example 1 the following areconcluded:

1) At 24 days of growth, the roots for plants receiving 2.0% CO₂ in airbubbled into the root zone showed a 65% increase in mass over the rootsof the plants receiving either air alone or 0.5% CO₂ in air (see Table2). Hence, introducing elevated carbon dioxide to the roots improves theearly formation of plant roots; 2) The average root weights at harvestwere higher for all of the containers of plants receiving elevatedcarbon dioxide at their roots than for those receiving just air at theirroots (see Table 3). Hence the benefit of carbon dioxide gas deliveredto the roots of rice plants continues through the entire growing season;3) The grain yields for rice plants receiving elevated carbon dioxidewere higher than the plants receiving just air with the exception of thecontainers receiving the highest level of carbon dioxide at 5.0% carbondioxide mixed with air. This demonstrates that providing carbon dioxideto the roots of rice plants increases the yield of grain up to an upperlimit of carbon dioxide.

Example 1 demonstrates that supplying carbon dioxide to the roots as agas, does not provide the synergism that is demonstrated by theinventive fertilizer. The plants receiving carbon dioxide at the rootsshowed only a small increase in total nitrogen uptake of 8.33% on Day 24(see Table 2) as compared to the much larger increase in the totalnitrogen uptake of 57.9% for the most effective inventive fertilizer ofExample 3 (see Table 14).

For the Example 1 tests, carbon dioxide diluted with air in selectedamounts was bubbled into the root zone of paddy rice. The rice wasplanted in 18.9 L (5 gallon) containers which are 30.5 cm (12 inches) indiameter and 35.6 cm (14 inches) deep, and sets of 8 containers allreceived the same gas mixture. The tests were designed to end after 17weeks, but some containers were removed earlier to visually check theroots for amount of growth.

For the Example 1 tests, the following gas mixtures were used:

-   -   Air    -   0.2% carbon dioxide in air    -   0.5% carbon dioxide in air    -   1.0% carbon dioxide in air    -   2.0% carbon dioxide in air    -   5.0% carbon dioxide in air    -   Note: 0.2% is approximately 5 times the amount of carbon dioxide        currently found naturally in air

18.9 L (5 gallon) containers were prepared by placing an aquatic gasdiffuser attached to tubing at the bottom of each container and thenfilling the container 10.2 cm (4 inches) from the top with sieved topsoil. The containers were placed on tables in a greenhouse in groups ofeight so that all received approximately the same amount of light. Eachgroup of eight containers was attached to a tank of gas with the gasbeing supplied through a regulator to a flowmeter and then to a set ofeight valves each one controlling the gas mixture to a single container.A total of forty-eight containers were prepared, and twenty-fourcontainers were placed on each table. FIG. 2 shows the location in thegreenhouse of each set of containers. The soil used for Example 1 wastested for pH, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur,sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, total nitrogen, totalcarbon, and organic matter content by loss on ignition (LOI) analysis.The results of these soil tests are presented in Table 1 and are labeledSample A-2. Based on the soil tests, the low soil test phosphorus valueof 33.3 mg/kg was supplemented by mixing 1.7 g of triple super phosphateinto the top 7.6 cm (3 inches) of soil in each container. Other low soiltest values for nitrogen (0.0978%), potassium (65 mg/kg), and magnesium(45 mg/kg) were supplemented by dissolving 150 g of urea (for nitrogen),132 g of potassium chloride (for potassium), and 1236 g of Epsom salts(magnesium sulfate heptahydrate for magnesium) in 12 liters of water.Each container was then given 200 mL of this solution. On May 25, 2016,zinc was added using zinc sulfate due to the low soil test value forzinc of 3.9 mg/kg. The containers were flooded to 1.3 cm (0.5 inches)above the surface of the soil using collected rainwater. On May 20,2016, the rice seed was presoaked for 24 hours and then drained for 24hours was dropped on the surface of the soil in each container. Afterthe rice was established, the plants were thinned to 10 plants percontainer. At a later date, the plants were thinned again to six plantsper container. The gas mixtures to the containers was started on May 20,2016 and adjusted to an initial flowmeter setting of 42.5 liters/hr.(1.5 ft³/hr.) with a steady flow of bubbles in each container. Theflowrate was turned down to 14.2 liters/hr. (0.5 ft³/hr.) on Jun. 14,2016. The gas flow was supplied each weekday from 8:00 am to noon.During the testing, fans in the greenhouse created a constant airflow toprevent carbon dioxide concentration around a particular group ofplants.

On May 25, 2016, 10.6 g of zinc sulfate was dissolved in 10 L of waterand each container was given 200 mL of this solution. As the plantsgrew, the flood waters were gradually raised until they reached a depthof three inches above the soil surface. A flood water depth of 5.1 to7.6 cm (2 to 3 inches) was maintained for the remainder of the test. OnJun. 13, 2016, one front container (containing 10 plants each) for eachlevel of carbon dioxide was withdrawn for measurement and the plantswere gently removed and thoroughly cleaned. The plants and roots werethen dried in an oven overnight at 80° C. The next day, the roots weretrimmed and weighed. Table 2 presents the total root weights and totalfoliage weights of the ten plants for each container of plants. Theweight of the foliage for each of the containers receiving elevatedcarbon dioxide was slightly more than the weight of the foliage for thecontainer receiving soley air.

As seen in Table 2, the roots for the plants receiving 2.0% CO₂ in airshowed a significant increase in dry mass over the plants having lesscarbon dioxide bubbled into their root zone. This demonstrates thatintroducing carbon dioxide to the roots does improve the early formationof plant roots.

Also, the percent nitrogen in the rice foliage was measured for theplants on day 24 and these results are also presented in Table 2. TheExample 1 plants receiving carbon dioxide at the roots showed only asmall increase in total nitrogen uptake of up to 8.33%. However, thetotal nitrogen uptake by rice plants for the inventive fertilizerresults in Example 3 was measured at up to 57.9%. This dramaticallyhigher total nitrogen uptake by the Example 3 rice plants demonstratesthat supplying carbon dioxide to the roots as a gas as done in Example1, does not provide the synergism that is demonstrated by the inventivefertilizer.

TABLE 2 Root Weights and Foliage Nitrogen Uptake for Example 1 RicePlants at 24 Days Dry Total Nitrogen Dry Root % Difference of FoliageUptake by % Difference in Total Weight Root Weight as Weight FoliageNitrogen % CO₂ (g) Compared to Air (g) (g) Uptake Air 1.26 Baseline 3.140.144 Baseline 0.5% 1.26 0% 3.48 0.156 8.33% 2.0% 2.08 +65.1%    3.430.151 4.86%

On Jun. 20, 2016, the rice plants of Example 1 were thinned to sixplants per container. On Aug. 1, 2016, additional nitrogen and triplesuper phosphate (TSP) was added to each container at the rate of 0.57 gTSP in all containers, 0.87 g of urea per container being fed normalair, and 2.27 g ammonium bicarbonate (equivalent nitrogen content as0.87 g of urea) for the rest of the containers. This introduction ofnitrogen and phosphates was to ensure no limitation in nitrogen andphosphorus for the plants and therefore ensure the testing validity ofintroducing carbon dioxide as a gas to the roots of the plants. Theintroduction of a starter fertilizer at, before, or just after plantingwithout introducing additional nutrients after placing the inventivefertilizer was further developed in the later examples.

The rough rice for the Example 1 tests was harvested on Sep. 19, 2016.The rough rice was separated, and dried for seven days at 40° C. Afterthe rice was collected from each plant, two containers from each set wasselected to have their roots thoroughly rinsed, dried, and weighed. Theresulting average weights of these roots are in Table 3 and show thatthe root weights were higher for all of containers with plants receivingelevated carbon dioxide.

TABLE 3 Example 1 Average Root Weights at Harvest % CO₂ Dry Root Weight(g) % Difference Air 46.0 Baseline 0.2 62.5 +35.8% 0.5 49.0 +6.4% 1.050.4 +9.6% 2.0 51.1 +11.1% 5.0 55.5 +20.7%

The dry weights for the rough rice yields from the Example 1 tests areshown in Table 4. With the exception of the containers receiving 5.0%carbon dioxide mixed with air, all of the yields for rice plantsreceiving elevated carbon dioxide were higher than the plants receivingjust air.

TABLE 4 Example 1 Rough Rice Yields % CO₂ Yield Weight (g) % DifferenceAir 88.9 Baseline 0.2% 91.5 2.9% 0.5% 94.3 6.1% 1.0% 99.5 11.9% 2.0%99.5 11.9% 5.0% 86.2 −3.0%

Overall, the tests of Example 1 demonstrate that supplying carbondioxide at the plant roots increases yield and promotes root growth.

Example 2: 2016 Fertilizer Identification Tests

The objective of the Example 2 tests was to identify solid fertilizersthat benefit rice yield by supplying carbon/carbon dioxide/bicarbonatewith nitrogen at the roots of the rice plants.

18.9 L (5 gallon) containers of topsoil were prepared for Example 2 bysieving the soil and then filling the containers to 10.2 cm (4 inches)from the top. The soil used for Example 2 was tested for pH, phosphorus,potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc,copper, boron, total nitrogen, total carbon, and organic matter contentby loss on ignition (LOI) analysis. The results of this soil testing arepresented in Table 1 and labeled Sample A-2. Due to the low soil testvalue for phosphorus (33.3 mg/kg), starter phosphorous fertilizer wasapplied to each container by mixing 1.7 g of TSP into the top 7.6 cm (3inches) of soil. Starter fertilizer for zinc was also applied to eachcontainer as 0.2 g of zinc sulfate due to the low zinc soil test valueof 3.9 mg/kg. Each container was given 0.5 g of urea to supplement theinitial nitrogen needs of the plants because the soil test nitrogenvalue was low at 0.0978%. From the soil tests, the calcium to magnesiumratio was 27:1 which is outside the recommended ratio range of between5:1 and 15:1. For this reason, the magnesium levels were raised byadding 20.5 g of Epsom salt (MgSO₄.7H₂O) to each container. The starterfertilizer of zinc sulfate, urea, and Epsom salt was added to thecontainers in solution form.

At various times during the growth of the plants, the containers werealso given tablets containing selected combinations of sodiumbicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and ammonium bicarbonate. All of theformulations were designed to deliver the equivalent amount of nitrogento every container but vary the amount of carbon in its various forms.Because potassium was not included in all of the tablet formulations andthe soil test value for potassium was low (65 mg/kg), containers withoutpotassium bicarbonate in the tablets were given potassium chloride insolution form at the rate of 2.2 g KCl per container. The potassiumbicarbonate provided in the tablets to each container was formulated toprovide the equivalent potassium found in 2.2 g of KCl. Ammoniumbicarbonate in the tablets was formulated to apply the equivalentnitrogen per container as the nitrogen in 2.55 g of urea. Somecontainers received tablets all at one time on Jul. 7, 2016 (designatedas early) and others received the equivalent total nitrogen splitbetween two tablets, one on Jul. 7, 2016 and the other on Aug. 31, 2016.The containers receiving two tablets were designated as early and late.Table 5 summarizes the application of the various fertilizers forExample 2 and Table 6 gives the tablet formulations used for Example 2.

The fertilizer applied for Example 2 was applied as large tablets thatwere buried 7.6-10.2 cm (3-4 inches) beneath the soil surface. Onepurpose of using the large tablets and burying them was to slow therelease of the bicarbonate. The tablets were made by mixing fertilizerpowder with tablet binders, antiadherents, and glidants that alsoprovided additional carbon in the fertilizer. These tablet binders,lubricators, antiadherents, and glidants were paraffin wax (91.9%Carbon, added as a binder and lubricant), corn starch (46.8% Carbon,added as binder, antiadherent, and glidant), magnesium stearate (73.1%Carbon, added as a lubricant and antiadherent), and stearic acid (75.9%Carbon, added as a binder). The mixture was weighed, placed in a metaltube either 1.91 cm (0.75 inch) in diameter or 2.54 cm (1 inch) indiameter with the appropriate size rod on top, and the rod was pressedwith 63 kg/cm² (900 pounds/in²) of pressure. The resulting tablets werecylindrical and of a diameter chosen to minimize the surface area tovolume ratio for the tablet.

TABLE 5 Example 2 Fertilizer Applications ***Application Tablet*Fertilizer Formula Times for Weight Application Code tablet or urea (g)**Fertilizer Application Urea-E early N/A 0.5 g urea at planting + 2.55g urea early (buried loose) Urea-E, delayed K early, N/A 0.5 g urea atplanting + delayed K 2.55 g urea early (buried loose) Urea-E&L early &late N/A 0.5 g urea at planting, 1.275 g urea early, 1.275 g urea late(buried loose) ABC-low-E early 7.83 0.5 g urea at planting, 1 tabletearly ABC-low-E&L early & late 3.92 0.5 g urea at planting, 1 tabletearly & 1 tablet late ABC + SBC-mid-E early 15.48 0.5 g urea atplanting, 1 tablet early ABC + early & late 7.74 0.5 g urea at planting,SBC-mid-E&L 1 tablet early &1 tablet late ABC + SBC-hg-E early 40.12 0.5g urea at planting, 1 tablet early ABC + early & late 20.06 0.5 g ureaat planting, SBC-hg-E&L 1 tablet early & 1 tablet late SBC-low-E early8.50 0.5 g urea at planting, 2.55 g urea early (buried loose) ABC + KBCearly-delay K 11.34 0.5 g urea at planting, mid-E, delay K 1 tabletearly ABC + KBC + early and late 9.59 0.5 g of urea at planting,SBC-mid-E&L, 1 tablet early & 1 tablet delayed K late *Code meaning:tablet formulation/ingredients-CO₂ levels-application time, Low, mid orhg (high) = relative level of carbon dioxide, E or L = early or late.**All but delayed K runs were given at planting on Jun. 23, 2016: 2.2 gKCl, 1.7 g TSP, 0.2 g ZnSO₄, 20.5 g Epsom salt; Delayed K received 1.7 gTSP, 0.2 g ZnSO₄, 20.5 g Epsom salt (MgSO₄•7H₂O) at planting and eitherKCl or KBC when tablets or urea were applied later. ***Early was on Jul.7, 2016; Late was on Aug. 31, 2016; Delayed means that the potassium wasdelayed until Jul. 7, 2016

Abbreviations Used

-   -   ABC—ammonium bicarbonate    -   KBC—potassium bicarbonate    -   SBC—sodium bicarbonate    -   TSP—triple super phosphate    -   SP—super phosphate

TABLE 6 Formulations for Example 2 Tablets Formula Label ABC + ABC +ABC + ABC + KBC + ABC SBC-mid SBC-hg SBC KBC SBC Ingredients weight %weight % weight % weight % weight % weight % ABC 84.00 42.50 16.40 058.00 34.30 SBC 0.00 42.50 68.60 84.00 0.00 34.30 KBC 0.00 0.00 0.000.00 26.00 15.40 Wax 13.00 12.00 12.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 Corn Starch1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Magnesium 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00Stearate Stearic Acid 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Total Weight 7.8315.48 40.12 8.50 11.34 19.18 Applied per Container (g)

As in Example 1, Oryza sativa long grain rice variety LaKast™ seedtreated with CruiserMaxx® (an insecticide and fungicide) was chosen forthis example as an excellent representative of all rice growncommercially. The rice seed was planted in the soil 1.3-1.9 cm (0.5-0.75inches) deep without flooding on Jun. 23, 2016 and watered to keep thesoil moist. After the rice seed sprouted, it was thinned to 10 plantsper container. When the rice plants had become established, the plantswere thinned to 5 plants per container and on Jul. 7, 2016 thecontainers were flooded to 1.27 cm (0.5 inch) above the surface of thesoil. After flooding, all of the fertilizers marked as earlyapplications were placed in the center of the containers at a depth of10.1 cm (4 inches) below the surface of the soil. The water level in thecontainers was gradually increased using collected rain water until thelevel reached a depth of 7.6 cm (3 inches) above the surface of the soilafter which the flood was maintained between 5.1 and 7.6 cm (2 and 3inches) above the soil surface. On Aug. 31, 2016, the second applicationof fertilizer was added to the containers as designated in Table 5. Thislate fertilizer was placed in the center of the container at 10.1 cm (4inches) beneath the soil surface.

The resulting rough rice yields for the Example 2 fertilizers arepresented in Table 7A. All of the containers except one produced roughrice yields that were greater than the controls receiving just thecarbon dioxide from urea. The ammonium bicarbonate tablet with potassiumbicarbonate containing 2.7 times the carbon dioxide as urea, producedthe highest yield of rough rice with an increase of 29.2% over the yieldfor the container receiving solely urea as the nitrogen source. Thecontainer with sodium bicarbonate in the tablet and no nitrogen sourcein the tablet (SBC-low-E) supplied carbon dioxide to the roots at 3times the level found in urea alone. This container produced a yield ofrough rice that was 15.8% more than the urea alone. The SBC-low-Econtainer received the same amount and timing of urea, as well as thesame amount and timing of the other fertilizers including KCl, triplesuper phosphate, and zinc sulfate as were given to the control inContainer C-E. This demonstrates that providing additional carbondioxide to the roots as bicarbonate, improves the yield of plantproducts.

TABLE 7 Example 2 Rough Rice Yields Average Average Average FertilizerFormula Panicles Blanks per Grains per Dry Yield in Application Code perPlant Panicle Panicle (g/container) ABC + KBC-mid-E 4.8 32.7 216.47123.78 ABC + SBC-mid-E 5.6 45.9 174.16 114.96 ABC + SBC-hg-E&L 6.0 53.3156.25 112.26 ABC + KBC + SBC- 5.8 21.7 159.86 111.43 mid-E&L SBC-low-E6.0 28.9 155.74 110.83 ABC + SBC-hg-E 5.4 52.8 168.44 106.45 ABC-low-E4.8 54.7 189.49 106.26 ABC + SBC-mid-E&L 5.0 17.3 169.24 100.77 Urea-E,delayed K 5.8 17.8 142.68 99.08 Urea-E 5.2 12.7 149.58 95.86 ABC-low-E&L4.8 18.9 149.88 91.10 Urea-E&L 5.0 13.4 130.32 84.95 Example 2 RoughRice Yields, cont. Fertilizer Formula Application Yield % Difference*CO₂ App. Code from Urea-E Factor ABC + KBC-mid-E 29.1% 2.7 ABC +SBC-mid-E 19.9% 3.8 ABC + SBC-hg-E&L 17.1% 9.7 ABC + KBC + SBC-mid-E&L16.2% 4.5 SBC-low-E 15.6% 3.0 ABC + SBC-hg-E 11.0% 9.7 ABC-low-E 10.8%2.0 ABC + SBC-mid-E&L 5.1% 3.8 Urea-E, delayed K 3.4% 1.0 Urea-EBaseline 1.0 ABC-low-E&L −5.0% 2.0 Urea-E&L −11.4% 1.0 *Ratio of CO₂supplied by the fertilizer per container to CO₂ supplied by 2.55 g ofurea

The only fertilizer that did not show improved yields of rough rice withhigher levels of carbon dioxide was the ammonium bicarbonate fertilizerthat did not include an alkali metal bicarbonate and the fertilizer wasapplied as a split application. This demonstrates that using the alkalimetal bicarbonate in the fertilizer provides an additional benefit overnot using it.

Example 3: Replicated Rice Tests with Solid Fertilizer

To check the benefits of using solid nitrogen based fertilizer withcarbon dioxide supplied to the roots, fifteen fertilizer formulationwere made into tablets and tested in five replicates. The percentnitrogen in the chemicals used as nitrogen sources to make the Example 3fertilizer tablets was measured using a carbon and nitrogen elementalanalyzer, LECO CN628®, and the results are presented in Table 8. Thenitrogen level in each material was as expected based on the chemicalformula of the material. The fertilizer formulations for each solidfertilizer is shown in Table 9A and Table 9B. The solid fertilizertablets for Example 3 were made using a Stokes model #900-519-2® tabletpress with a 1.9 cm (0.75 inch) die that produced nearly sphericaltablets. Each tablet weighed between 2 and 3 grams.

TABLE 8 Percent Nitrogen in Starting Materials for Example 3 AverageMeasured Expected Sample % Nitrogen % Nitrogen % Nitrogen Ground Urea46.809 46.67 46.62 46.530 Ground Ammonium Sulfate 21.428 21.27 21.1921.107 Ammonium Bicarbonate 17.806 17.76 17.71 17.717

TABLE 9 Fertilizer Formulations for Example 3 Test Label R5.A R5.B R5.CR5.D R5.E R5.F R5.G Formulation Name Urea + Urea + Urea + ABC + AS-0Urea-1 SBC-2 SBC-3 SBC-4 ABC-2 SBC-3 Ingredients Weight % in FormulationABC 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 84.00 54.57 SBC 0.00 0.00 49.00 61.89 67.850.00 29.43 AS 84.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Urea 0.00 84.00 35.0022.11 16.15 0.00 0.00 wax 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 cornstarch 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 magnesium 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.001.00 1.00 1.00 stearate stearic acid 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00graphite 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Weight of 6.65 3.04 7.2911.54 15.79 7.88 12.13 tablets per container (g) Test Label R5.H R5.IR5.J R5.K R5.L R5.M R5.N Formulation Name ABC+30 ABC +30 ABC+30 ABC +ABC + Urea- Urea Urea + AS + Urea + SBC-4 SBC-5 1.5 SBC-2.25 SBC-3.5SBC-2 Graphite-3 Ingredients Weight % in Formulation ABC 40.41 32.0960.64 38.28 23.71 0.00 0.00 SBC 43.59 51.91 0.00 30.97 51.15 47.11 0.00AS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 36.89 0.00 Urea 0.00 0.00 23.36 14.75 9.130.00 60.00 wax 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 corn starch1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 magnesium 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.001.00 1.00 stearate stearic acid 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00graphite* 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 24.00 Weight of 16.38 20.63 5.468.65 13.96 15.15 4.25 tablets per container (g) *Graphite used to testproviding just elemental carbon in the fertilizer

18.9 L (5 gallon) containers were prepared for testing the solidfertilizers for Example 3. The soil for a total of 75 containers wassieved top soil and was tested for pH, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,magnesium, sulfur, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, totalnitrogen, and total carbon. The results of this soil testing arepresented in Table 1 and are labeled Samples A-3 & A-4. Each containerwas weighed with 16.3 kg (36 pounds) of soil. On May 2, 2017 eachcontainer received starter fertilizer including 5.0 g of startersuperphosphate (18% P₂O₅ to supplement the low average soil test valueof 13.8 mg/kg) mixed into the top 7.6-10.2 cm (3-4 inches) of the soil.A starter nutrient solution was made by dissolving 40 g of urea (tosupplement the low average soil test nitrogen value of 0.0511%), 176 gof KCl (to supplement the low average potassium soil test value of 62.5mg/kg), 28.5 g of ZnSO₄.7H₂O (to supplement the low average zinc soiltest value of 2.9 mg/kg), and 1640 g of Epsom Salt (to supplement thelow average magnesium soil test value of 50.5 mg/kg) in 16 liters ofrain water. Each container was given 200 mL of the starter nutrientsolution. The following day on May 3, 2017, the containers were plantedwith Oryza sativa long grain rice variety Diamond™ seed treated withNipsIt Suite® (an insecticide and fungicide) and AV-1011® (a birdrepellent) which was carefully selected as representative of all ricegrown commercially and provides an excellent model for testingcommercial rice. To plant the rice, the rice seed was pushed 1.9 cm(0.75 inches) beneath the soil surface, and the hole was filled withsand. Between 15 and 17 seeds were planted in each container. Thecontainers were watered with equal amounts of rain water as needed tomaintain soil moisture. When the rice plants were established, thecontainers were thinned to 5 plants each. On May 26, 2017 the containerswere flooded with rainwater to a standing water depth of 0.64-1.3 cm(0.25-0.5 inch) above the surface of the soil and this level wasstabilized and maintained until May 29, 2017. The flood water in thecontainers was raised to 5.1 cm (2 inches) above soil surface on June 2and to 7.6 cm (3 inches) on June 9. After June 9, the level wasmaintained between 5.1 and 7.6 cm (2 and 3 inches) above soil surface.

As planned, each formulation in Tables 9A&9B was applied to fivecontainers. For this, the tablets were weighed out according to thefertilizer weight requirements in the Tables 9A&9B. The 5 containers foreach test were arranged randomly on tables in a greenhouse as shown inFIG. 3. On May 29, 2017, the fertilizer tablets were placed in thecenter of each container at a depth of 7.6 cm (3 inches) and thencovered with soil.

For Example 3, pH readings on various dates were measured in the floodwater of each container. These pH measurements are presented in Table10. A graph of selected measurements is shown in FIG. 4.

TABLE 10 Five Container Average pH Readings of Flood Waters for Example3 Tests Days after Fertilization Test Label 1 8 14 21 28 36 42 49 70 91(Formulation Name) pH Value R5.A (AS-0) 6.6 6.0 7.8 7.6 6.7 6.9 7.0 6.77.0 6.1 R5.B (Urea-1) 6.8 7.0 7.2 7.3 6.8 6.9 7.0 6.4 6.8 6.0 R5.C(Urea + SBC-2) 6.9 7.1 7.4 7.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.6 6.9 6.1 R5.D (Urea +SBC-3) 7.0 7.8 7.7 7.7 6.9 7.0 7.1 6.5 7.0 6.1 R5.E (Urea + SBC-4) 7.27.8 7.8 7.7 6.4 6.6 6.8 6.7 6.9 6.1 R5.F (ABC-2) 6.8 6.4 7.4 7.4 6.9 7.07.0 6.5 7.0 5.9 R5.G (ABC + SBC-3) 7.0 7.5 7.8 7.8 6.6 6.8 6.9 6.5 6.96.0 R5.H (ABC + SBC-4) 7.2 8.0 8.3 8.1 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.6 6.8 6.0 R5.J(ABC + Urea-1.5) 7.1 7.2 7.4 7.6 6.8 7.0 7.0 6.5 7.0 6.1 R5.K (ABC +Urea + 6.8 7.6 7.6 7.8 6.8 7.0 7.0 6.5 6.9 6.0 SBC-2.25) R5.L (ABC +Urea + 7.2 7.7 8.5 8.2 6.8 6.9 7.0 6.6 7.0 6.0 SBC-3.5) R5.M (AS +SBC-2) 6.7 6.8 7.8 7.7 6.6 6.8 7.0 6.5 6.9 6.1 R5.N (Urea + 6.7 6.7 7.87.8 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.7 6.9 6.0 Graphite-3)

At harvest, the rough rice was weighed, and the moisture was measuredwith a moisture balance. The calculated dry weights for the rough riceare presented in Table 11. The results from the Example 3 tests clearlyshow a benefit in yield from providing carbon at the roots in the formof bicarbonate. The increase of almost 60% was seen from the use ofurea, ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate together, and wasquite unexpected. The increase for the ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 was almost twicethe increased yield from Urea+SBC-4. This illustrates that the synergyproducing the higher yield of grain significantly depends on the use ofurea with ammonium bicarbonate and an alkali bicarbonate since thecarbon in all forms was at essentially the same level in eachfertilizer. An effective interaction occurred between the combination ofingredients and ingredient amounts.

In the case of supplying graphite as a source of elemental carbon at theroots, there was a negligible increase in yield of rough ricedemonstrating that the formulation with carbon supplied as elementalcarbon does not have the same effect as using bicarbonates. Also, usingammonium bicarbonate without urea and an alkali metal (ABC-2) does notprovide any significant increase in yield.

TABLE 11 Rough Rice Yields for Example 3 **Fertilizer *Average DryCarbon/ Rough Rice % Increase Bicarbonate Fertilizer Formulation Yield(g) over Urea-1 Factor ABC + Urea + SBC-3.5 89.92 59.3% 3.5 Urea + SBC-475.79 34.3% 4 Urea + SBC-2 71.07 25.9% 2 AS + SBC-2 68.25 20.9% 2 ABC +SBC-4 67.46 19.5% 4 ABC + Urea + SBC-2.25 63.97 13.4% 2.25 ABC + SBC-362.24 10.3% 3 Urea + SBC-3 61.80 9.5% 3 ABC + Urea-1.5 61.24 8.5% 1.5Urea + Graphite-3 59.14 4.8% 3 ABC-2 58.16 3.1% 2 ABC + SBC-5 56.63 0.4%5 Urea-1 56.43 Baseline 1 AS-0 56.18 −0.4% 0 *The average yields werecalculated based on eliminating the highest and lowest results of each 5container set. **Ratio of carbon in the fertilizer to carbon in 2.55 gof urea (ignoring binders, lubricants, and flow agents)

TABLE 12 Nitrogen in Rough Rice for Example 3 *Average Total % Increasefor Yield for % Nitrogen Total Nitrogen Fertilizer Nitrogen Uptake byTaken up by Rough Fertilizer Formulation in Rough Rough Rice Rice asCompared Formulation Name Sample # (g) Rice (g) with Urea-1 ABC + Urea +SBC-3.5 Average from Table 13 89.92 1.59%** 1.43 76.5% Urea + SBC-4R5.E.2 75.79 1.34% 1.02 25.9% Urea + SBC-2 R5.C.4 71.07 1.45% 1.03 27.2%AS + SBC-2 R5.M.2 68.25 1.32% 0.91 12.3% ABC + SBC-4 R5.H.4 67.46 1.35%0.91 12.3% ABC + Urea + SBC-2.25 R5.K.5 63.97 1.30% 0.83 2.5% ABC +SBC-3 R5.G.3 62.24 1.36% 0.85 4.9% Urea + SBC-3 R5.D.4 61.80 1.24% 0.77−4.9% ABC + Urea-1.5 R5.J.1 61.24 1.37% 0.84 3.7% Urea + Graphite-3R5.N.3 59.14 1.41% 0.83 2.5% ABC-2 R5.F.5 58.16 1.37% 0.80 −1.2% ABC +SBC-5 R5.I.3 56.63 1.33% 0.75 −7.4% Urea-1 Average from Table 13 56.431.44%** 0.81 Baseline AS-0 R5.A.2 56.18 1.41% 0.79 −2.5% *The averageyields were calculated based on throwing out the highest and lowestresults of each 5 container set. **Average of nitrogen in rough rice forthree middle yield containers.

The rough rice for the second highest yield of each fertilizerformulation was tested for percent nitrogen using a carbon, hydrogen andnitrogen elemental analyzer, LECO CN628® and for percent carbon with asulfur and carbon elemental analyzer, LECO SC-144DR®. The results ofthese measurements are presented in Tables 12 and 13. Recent studies atthe Harvard University Center for Environmental Health (Myers, S. S., etal. “Rising CO₂ threatens human nutrition.” Nature 510 (Jun. 5, 2014):139-142) demonstrate that rice grown with elevated atmospheric carbondioxide contain lower protein levels in the grain. Surprisingly, thefertilizer of the present invention produced rice grains with a 10.4%increase in protein level in the rough rice over the rough rice grownwith just urea. Also, the total nitrogen uptake in the rough rice of thefertilizer of the present invention showed a 76.5% increase over thetotal nitrogen uptake in the rough rice that was grown with just urea.This shows a dramatic improvement in nitrogen efficiency for theinventive fertilizer.

TABLE 13 Additional Percent Nitrogen Measured in Rough Rice for Example3 % Nitrogen in Fertilizer Formulation Name Sample # Rough Rice ABC +Urea + SBC-3.5 R5.L.4 1.66 R5.L.5 1.57 R5.L.3 1.54 Urea-1 R5.B.1 1.50R5.B.4 1.43 R5.B.3 1.40

The % nitrogen was measured in the rough rice of each of the middleyield containers for the R5.L formulations and for the R5.6formulations. The results of these measurements are presented in Table13. As can be seen from the results in Table 13, the protein in therough rice for all of the ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 tests was higher than theprotein in the rough rice grown with Urea-1. The average % nitrogen forthe rough rice from ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 was 1.59% and for the Urea-1 was1.44% showing the average increase in protein was significant forABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 at 10.4%.

Samples of ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 formulation fertilizer tablets that weremade in May were tested for % nitrogen in October. The measured %nitrogen for the ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 formulation fertilizer was 7.70% andthe expected nitrogen was 8.28%. Hence, the high nitrogen efficiency wasnot due to excess nitrogen supplied by the fertilizer. Also, the totalnitrogen taken up by the plants and rough rice (roots not included) forselect containers was measured and the results are shown in Table 14.All of the containers that were supplied fertilizer with an alkalibicarbonate had a total nitrogen uptake that exceeded the containersreceiving just urea. Only 1.40 g of nitrogen was supplied directly bythe starter fertilizer and inventive fertilizer indicating that theformulation of the present inventive fertilizer provides an unexpectedincrease in nitrogen efficiency associated with the additional carbonsupplied to the plant and shows unique synergism that makes additionalnitrogen available to the plant.

TABLE 14 Total Nitrogen Uptake by Example 3 Plants at Harvest *TotalNitrogen % Increase in Sample Uptake Nitrogen Uptake FertilizerFormulation Label (g) Compared to Urea-1 ABC + Urea + R5.L.4 2.59 57.9%SBC-3.5 Urea + SBC-4 R5.E.2 1.71 4.3% Urea + SBC-2 R5.M.2 2.14 30.5%AS + SBC-4 R5.M.2 1.87 14.0% Urea-1 R5.B.1 1.64 Baseline *For plant andrough rice without the roots

Using a sulfur and carbon elemental analyzer, LECO SC-144DR®, the %carbon was measured in the rough rice of selected containers for Example3, and the results are presented in Table 15. Because the carbon levelin rice is significantly more than the nitrogen levels (around 35:1), asignificant difference in the % carbon was not expected. However, toobtain a higher yield of plant products, there should be more carbonpresent for the plant to produce that given yield. This is seen byexamining the difference in the total carbon uptake of the rough rice.The total carbon uptake for the present fertilizer was almost 60% morethan for uptake of nitrogen. Example 3 demonstrates a dramatic increasein carbon efficiency in plant uptake and again shows that an effectiveinteraction occurred between the plant and the fertilizer of theinvention. Furthermore, the increase in uptake of carbon by growing ricewith the current fertilizer shows that the fertilizer can be used tolower carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

TABLE 15 Carbon in the Rough Rice for Example 3 *Average *Total Rough %Carbon % Increase Rice Yield Carbon Uptake in Carbon **Fertilizer per inper Uptake as Carbon/ Fertilizer Container Rough Container ComparedBicarbonate Formulation Sample # (g) Rice (g) to Urea-1 Factor ABC +Urea + R5.L.4 89.92 47.60 42.80 59.8% 3.5 SBC-3.5 Urea + SBC-4 R5.E.275.79 47.29 35.84 33.8% 4 Urea + SBC-2 R5.C.4 71.07 47.08 33.46 24.9% 2AS + SBC-2 R5.M.2 68.25 46.87 31.99 19.4% 2 ABC + SBC-4 R5.H.4 67.4647.50 32.04 19.6% 4 ABC + Urea + R5.K.5 63.97 46.95 30.03 12.1% 2.25SBC-2.25 ABC + SBC-3 R5.G.3 62.24 47.78 29.74 11.0% 3 Urea + SBC-3R5.D.4 61.80 47.37 29.27  9.3% 3 ABC + Urea-1.5 R5.J.1 61.24 47.52 29.10 8.6% 1.5 Urea + R5.N.3 59.14 47.86 28.30  5.6% 3 Graphite-3 ABC-2R5.F.5 58.16 47.52 27.64  3.2% 2 ABC + SBC-5 R5.I.3 56.63 47.54 26.92 0.5% 5 urea-1 R5. B.1 56.43 47.48 26.79 Baseline 1 AS-0 R5.A.2 56.1846.94 26.37 −1.6% 0 *Based on eliminating the high and low yields ofeach set of 5 tests **Ratio of carbon in the fertilizer to carbon in2.55 g of urea (ignoring binders, lubricants, and flow agents)

It is accepted among agronomists that rice grows best in slightly acidicsoil. According to Smith and Dilday (Smith, C. W and Robert H. Dilday.Rice: Origin, History, Technology, and Production. John Wiley & Sons,Nov. 25, 2002, p. 272), the ideal soil pH range for growing rice is5.5-6.6. A surprising result of the Example 3 tests was that thefertilizer formulation producing the greatest increase in crop yieldalso showed the highest measured peak pH which reached almost 8.5 (seeFIG. 4), and the Urea-1 test sample used for comparison as the controlhad the lowest peak pH. It is postulated that the higher pH for thecarbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer helped to trap the carbonin the form of bicarbonate (see FIG. 1) and therefore improved theefficiency of the carbon. Additionally, the urea did not readilyhydrolyze due to the anaerobic environment beneath the soil surface.When the urea did form ammonia, it did so slowly and the ammonia wastrapped beneath the soil surface and converted to ammonium (NH₄+) whichthe rice plants were able to use as a nutrient. This made the nitrogenand carbon both slowly available to the plant without losses to theatmosphere.

During the “booting” stage of the rice plant, the reproductive stage ofrice when the leaf stem begins to bulge due to the developing panicle, adistinct difference in the color of the ABC+Urea+SBC-3.5 (R5.Lformulation) rice plants was noticed. In all five of the R5.Lcontainers, the plants looked much greener than any of the plants in anyof the other containers. This darker green color continued all of theway through harvest. Four days after harvest, the chlorophyll of theplants in the Urea-1 containers (R5.6) as well as the R5.L plants wasmeasured using a chlorophyll analyzer, SPAD 502 Meter®. The averages ofthe measurements for each container are presented in Table 16. Theseresults show that the average chlorophyll for the R5.L plants was 19.8%greater than the chlorophyll in the Urea control containers. The plantmaterial in containers R5.L.4 and R5.6.1 was collected after harvest andanalyzed for nitrogen. Based on the % nitrogen values and the weights ofthe materials, a total nitrogen for the plant material in each containerwas found giving values of 0.89 g for R5.L.4 and 0.74 g for R5.6.1.Based on these measurements, the plant material for the R5.L.4 containerhad 20.3% more nitrogen than R5.6.1. Both the plant nitrogenmeasurements (20.3% increase) and the chlorophyll measurements (19.8%increase) show significant increases and demonstrate yet again that thenitrogen efficiency in the R5.L plants was higher than in the R5.6plants.

TABLE 16 SPAD ® Values for Chlorophyll Measurements of Example 3 R5.Land R5.B Plants Reading Test Label # L.1 L.2 L.3 L.4 L.5 B.1 B.2 B.3 B.4B.5  1 34.9 43.7 29.5 44.3 49.1 31.5 36.4 36.5 32.7 42.8  2 40.5 39.638.3 36.7 44.7 34.8 27.4 32.1 32.5 45.2  3 39.6 41.5 35.9 31.7 45.0 30.523 43.8 39.1 38.6  4 42.3 39.6 30.5 34.7 42.7 29.8 28.7 37.5 31 39.1  542.2 38.9 34.6 34.2 45.9 26.6 36.2 41 20.4 40.6  6 39.5 43.1 24.8 32.744.2 35.3 38.7 27.6 31.4 40.0  7 33.7 42.9 42.7 35.3 45.8 33.0 38 39.432.8 40.6  8 39.5 46.1 42.2 27.3 43.7 31.7 32.5 41.3 30.1 41.7  9 41.548.3 40.4 32.4 49.1 21.8 34.9 39.4 36.7 38.2 10 48.6 34.6 30.0 33.9 43.420.8 21.4 39.7 38.4 37.4 11 40.1 44.6 32.7 40.5 47.6 24.3 35.6 34.0 30.437.1 12 40.1 37.9 35.5 36.3 45.8 27.7 24.3 36.2 24.9 40.1 13 39.4 42.643.2 35.7 46.6 18.1 29.4 40.2 28.1 43.4 14 40.9 42.1 38.8 38.6 39.0 31.632.3 32.9 24 31.1 15 42.9 37.1 35.6 38.5 35.9 36.0 34.4 37.4 35.4 33.716 37.6 42.3 38.5 30.8 39.9 29.3 30.2 30.8 28.7 31.8 17 37.0 33.8 39.942.5 45.2 30.9 23.3 35.4 29 37.1 18 42.6 33.0 41.5 32.3 42.3 23.8 25.234.9 17.5 34.1 19 35.8 43.0 34.4 43.9 40.1 23.6 21.1 40.6 32.0 41.2 2030.8 43.0 39.2 32.6 45.2 32.7 30.3 23.8 31.6 35.4 Avg. 39.5 40.9 36.435.7 44.1 28.7 30.2 36.2 30.3 38.5 SPAD ® Overall Average: 39.3 OverallAverage: 32.8

Phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium were measured inthe harvested rough rice for test plants by inductively coupled plasmaoptical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The weight percent of eachelement is listed in Table 17A and Table 17B along with the calculatedtotal uptake of the element by the rough rice. As can be seen from theresults, the total uptake of potassium by the rough rice for the Urea-1(control) was less than the other fertilizer formulations. Also, thesodium uptake by the rough rice was very low. The percent sodiummeasured on the ICP-OES was near the lower detection limit of theinstrument and therefore can be considered to show no significantdifference. This demonstrates that the sodium uptake by the rice grainswas not affected by the elevated levels of sodium in the fertilizer andtherefore is not considered a health risk for those eating the rice.

TABLE 17 ICP-OES Measurements of Rough Rice for Example 3 Total P TotalMg Uptake by Uptake by Sample Fertilizer Rough Avg. Rough ID FormulationAvg. % P Rice (g) % Mg Rice (g) R5.B.1 Urea-1 0.359 0.22 0.141 0.09R5.B.4 0.391 0.21 0.135 0.07 R5.B.3 0.368 0.21 0.127 0.07 R5.L.4 ABC +0.307 0.32 0.127 0.13 R5.L.5 Urea + 0.258 0.21 0.111 0.09 R5.L.3 SBC-3.50.279 0.24 0.128 0.11 R5.C.4 Urea + SBC-2 0.325 0.30 0.129 0.12 R5.M.2AS + SBC-2 0.356 0.30 0.134 0.11 R5.E.2 Urea + SBC-4 0.333 0.29 0.1320.11 Total K Total Ca Uptake Uptake by by Sample Fertilizer Avg. RoughAvg. Rough Avg. ID Formulation % Ca Rice (g) % K Rice (g) % Na R5.B.1Urea-1 0.052 0.03 0.426 0.26 0.002 R5.B.4 0.044 0.02 0.435 0.23 0.004R5.B.3 0.046 0.03 0.433 0.24 0.001 R5.L.4 ABC + 0.040 0.04 0.397 0.410.001 R5.L.5 Urea + 0.039 0.03 0.390 0.32 0.003 R5.L.3 SBC-3.5 0.0580.05 0.400 0.34 0.004 R5.C.4 Urea + SBC-2 0.046 0.04 0.432 0.40 0.002R5.M.2 AS + SBC-2 0.049 0.04 0.434 0.36 0.004 R5.E.2 Urea + SBC-4 0.0450.04 0.444 0.39 0.003

Example 4: Applying Carbon Fertilizer Above Vs. Below the Soil

On Aug. 31, 2016, the soil for the tests was prepared in 18.9 L (5gallon) containers by sieving the soil and then filling the containersto 10.2 cm (4 inches) from the top as in Examples 2 and 3. The soil usedfor Example 4 was tested for pH, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,magnesium, sulfur, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, totalnitrogen, total carbon, and organic matter content by loss on ignition(LOI) analysis. The results of this soil testing are presented in Table1 and labeled Sample A-2. Due to the low soil test value for phosphorus(33.3 mg/kg), starter phosphorous fertilizer was applied to eachcontainer by mixing 1.7 g of TSP into the top 7.6 cm (3 inches) of soil.Starter fertilizer for zinc was also applied to each container as 0.2 gof zinc sulfate due to the low zinc soil test value of 3.9 mg/kg. Eachcontainer was given 0.5 g of urea to supplement the initial nitrogenneeds of the plants because the soil test nitrogen value was low at0.0978%. From the soil tests, the calcium to magnesium ratio was 27:1which is outside the recommended ratio range of between 5:1 and 15:1.For this reason, the magnesium levels were raised by added 20.5 g ofEpsom salt (MgSO₄.7H₂O) to each container. The starter fertilizer ofzinc sulfate, urea, and Epsom salt was added to the containers insolution form. As previously described in Examples 2 and 3, Oryza sativalong grain rice variety LaKast™ seed treated with CruiserMaxx® (aninsecticide and fungicide) was selected as a representative of all ricegrown commercially. The rice was planted on Sep. 1, 2016 with 15 seedsper container by pushing the rice seed 1.3-1.9 cm (0.5 in to 0.75 in)beneath the soil surface. The plants were thinned to nine per containerat two weeks and then to five plants per container when the containerswere flooded on Sep. 27, 2016. The carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogenfertilizer was added immediately after flooding the soil with water to alevel of 0.6-1.3 cm (0.25 in. to 0.5 in) above the soil surface. To makethe carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer, the formulas weremixed using the percentages shown in Table 18. The fertilizer wasapplied as a loose powder either to the flood water or buried 7.6-10.2cm (3-4 inches) beneath the soil surface. The plants grown with thefertilizers containing alkali bicarbonates showed stress early if thefertilizer was applied to the flood water but not for the fertilizersthat were buried. Two of the plants in the container that receivedABC+KBC+SBC in the flood waters completely died. All of the plants inthe containers with the buried fertilizer appeared healthy. This exampledemonstrates that if an alkali bicarbonate is used in the fertilizer,preferably the fertilizer is buried rather than applying the fertilizerto the floodwaters early in the plant growth.

TABLE 18 Formulas Used For Example 4 Tests Formula Name ABC + Urea +ABC + KBC KBC + SBC KCl + SBC 58% ABC 34.4% ABC 19.13% ABC 26% KBC 15.2%KBC 16.51% KCl 13% wax 34.4% SBC 49.36% SBC 1% Corn 13% wax 12% waxStarch 1% Magnesium 1% Corn 1% Corn Stearate Starch Starch 1% Stearic 1%Magnesium 1% Magnesium Acid Stearate Stearate 1% Stearic 1% Stearic AcidAcid Formula Weight to 11.34 19.18 13.33 Apply per Bucket (g)

The following tests were performed in 2018 to support the previous workperformed in 2016 and 2017. This work was included in the ProvisionalPatent filed on Dec. 15, 2017. All of the rice tests in the examplesbelow were grown in the same greenhouse as used in 2016 and 2017.

Example 5: Comparing the Use of Extra Starter Nutrients and AlternativeSource of Ammonium

With the exception of Tests 12.1 and 12.2, the rice for the Example 5Tests was grown in containers with 20 kg of soil each that had beenmixed and sieved. The soil used for Tests 12.1 and 12.2 was soil aftergrowing rice for the R5.L tests of Example 3 described in theProvisional Patent filed on Dec. 15, 2017. This soil was mixed and therewas only enough soil for Tests 12.1 and 12.2 to provide 18.5 kg percontainer. Soil analyses were performed by the University of Arkansas onsoil samples for all of the tests and are shown in Table 20A and Table20B. For comparison, the soil analyses for the Example 3 Tests are shownin Table 19 which were performed in March 2017. Two samples of the soilwere pulled and sent for testing so that R5-A and R5-B were duplicatesamples of the same soil. The soil analyses in Table 20A and Table 20Bbelow were performed by the University of Arkansas in April of 2018.Test R5L was for soil dried and mixed from the five R5.L containersafter growing rice for Example 3. This soil was then used to grow ricein the R9.12.1 and R9.12.2 tests. The soil samples labeled R9.1, R9.2,R9.3 in Table 20A and Table 20B are for three samples taken from thevery large batch of approximately 7.65 m³ (10 yards) top soil preparedto use for Example 5, Example 6, and Example 7 Tests.

TABLE 19 Soil Analyses for Soil Used for 2017 Example Rice Tests mg/kgID pH Fe Mn Zn Cu B N C R5-A 5.72 93.0 156 3.69 5.71 0.45 536 7274 R5-B5.67 95.3 164 2.08 2.01 0.41 485 7409 mg/kg ID pH P K Ca Mg S Na R5-A5.72 14.6 60.4 634 49.5 27.6 7.02 R5-B 5.67 13.0 64.9 608 50.9 27.210.38

TABLE 20 Soil Analyses for Soils Used for 2018 Greenhouse Rice Testsmg/kg I.D. pH P K Ca Mg S Na Fe R5L 5.7 17.4 21.3 656 142 125.5 28.8 156R9.1 5.9 7.6 50.2 792 61 34.1 6.3 83 R9.2 5.8 7.6 50.3 775 61 34.2 6.684 R9.3 5.8 7.9 49.6 807 63 31.4 7.1 83 mg/kg I.D. pH Mn Zn Cu B % N % CR5L 5.7 312 3.64 0.63 0.20 0.0660 0.7390 R9.1 5.9 141 0.95 0.34 0.250.0617 0.6294 R9.2 5.8 141 0.97 0.38 0.25 0.0596 0.5819 R9.3 5.8 1471.05 0.37 0.25 0.0605 0.5954

TABLE 21 Starter Nutrients Used for Example 5 Tests Triple SuperPhosphate Urea KCl ZnSO₄•7H₂O Test # (g/container) (g/container)(g/container) (g/container) 8.1, 8.2, 10.1 3.58 0.50 2.76 1.04 9.1a,9.1b 5.37 0.50 4.14 1.56 9.1c 5.37 0.50 1.94 1.56 12.1, 12.2 1.59 0.505.89 0.356 1.2 3.58 0.50 0.559 1.04 Starter Nutrients Used for Example 5Tests, cont. MgSO₄•7H₂O Boric Acid CuSO₄•5H₂O Test # (g/container)(g/container) (g/container) 8.1, 8.2, 10.1 16.6 0.0165 0.220 9.1a, 9.1b24.9 0.0247 0.330 9.1c 24.9 0.0247 0.330 12.1, 12.2 0 0.206 0.126 1.216.6 0.0165 0.220

Starter nutrients were added to each of the containers used to growrice. These starter nutrients are shown in Table 21A and Table 21B. Thepotassium was adjusted to account for potassium found in the fertilizerformulation so that the containers given potassium in the formulationreceived a much lower level of potassium in the starter nutrients.

Tests 9.1a, 9.1b, and 9.2c which were given 50% more starter nutrientsthan the other tests. The 9.2c Tests were given an even higher level ofpotassium chloride than the 50% more of the other starter nutrients.Since the soil test for 2018 (see Table 20A and Table 20B) showeddifferences in levels of several nutrients over the 2017 soil tests,these starter nutrients were adjusted to match the levels of phosphate,potassium, zinc, boron, and copper. No magnesium for Tests 12.1 and 12.2was added since it was already high. These starter nutrients were mixedinto the soil in the containers before planting.

Supergranules (SG) of fertilizer were made by mixing the ingredientslisted for each formulation in Table 22 and then compressing them intotablets. The fertilizer tablets were nearly spherical in shape andapproximately 1.91 cm (0.75 inches) in diameter. After the rice plantsin the container reached the 4 leaf stage, water was added to thecontainer to flood the soil until the water maintained a level of0.64-1.3 cm (0.25-0.5 inches) above the surface of the soil. The weighedfertilizer tablets were then placed 7.6-10.1 cm (3-4 inches) beneath thesurface of the soil of each container.

As seen from Table 22, KBC-3.5 and SBC-3.5 were formulations with 50% Nfrom ammonium bicarbonate and 50% N from urea. The number after thehyphen is the level of CO₂ provided to each container by the formulationrelative to the CO₂ provided by 2.55 g of urea. The test noted asU+AS+SBC was a formulation that replaced the 50% N normally given asammonium bicarbonate with the equivalent N provided as ammonium sulfate.

TABLE 22 Fertilizer Formulations for Example 5 Container 1.2, 9.1b &8.1, 9.1b & 8.2, 9.1a & 10.1 9.1c 12.2 12.1 (U + AS + (KBC-3.5)(SBC-3.5) (U-1) SBC) Compound Weight (g) Ammonium 0.00 0.00 0.00 28.10Sulfate Urea 12.75 12.75 25.50 12.75 ABC 33.12 33.12 0.00 0.00 SBC 0.0071.40 0.00 71.40 KBC 85.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Wax 18.10 18.10 4.00 18.10Corn Starch 1.40 1.40 0.30 1.40 Magnesium 1.40 1.40 0.30 1.40 StearateStearic Acid 1.40 1.40 0.30 1.40 Total 153.17 139.57 30.40 134.55 Weight(g) Weight per 15.32 13.96 3.04 13.45 Container (g)

After placing the fertilizer tablets, the water levels in the containerswere increased by 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) above the soil every other dayuntil the level reached 7.6 cm (3 inches) above the surface of the soil.After this level was reached, the water depth was maintained between 5.1and 7.6 cm (2-3 inches). Rain water was used for all water for tests inthe greenhouse. Care was taken to use the same water for all containersany time that water was applied.

Each of these tests was done in replicates of five. Table 23 and Table24 show the dry panicle weights per container for the panicles harvestedfor the Example 5 Tests.

TABLE 23 Dry Panicle Weights per Container for Example 5 Tests ComparingExtra Starter Nutrients SBC-3.5 KBC-3.5 U-1 Method Avg. Max Avg. MaxAvg. Max of Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Test Appli- Wgt. Wgt. Wgt. Wgt. Wgt.Wgt. Label Formulation cation (g) (g) (g) (g) (g) (g)  8.1,Supergranules SG 87.6 89.2 57.8 60.2 82.8 85.1 1.2, with 13% wax, 8.2 1%cornstarch, stearic acid, and magnesium stearate  9.1b, Same as 8.1, SG92.1 93.1 86.5 88.4 82.3 85.6 9.1c, 1.2, and 8.2 9.1a but given 50% morestarter nutrients 12.2, Same as 8.1 & SG 77.6 86.9 N/A 88.8 107.4 N/A,8.2 but grown 12.1 using soil from R5.L of Example 3

TABLE 24 Dry Panicle Weights per Container for Example 5 Tests ComparingAlternative Source of Ammonium Test Method of Avg. Dry Wgt. Max Dry Wgt.Label Formulation Application (g) (g) 10.1 U + AS + SBC SG 87.0 88.8

Conclusions from experimental evidence: 1) Starter nutrients were alimiting factor for the SBC-3.5 and KBC-3.5 formulations but not for theUrea-1. 2) By applying 50% more starter nutrients with our inventivefertilizer, our tests demonstrated up to a 12% increase in yield overthe yield for the urea formulation supplied with the same extra starternutrients. 3) The results showing no increase in yield when extrastarter nutrients were used with the urea formulation but an unexpected12% increase in yield for the inventive fertilizer with extra starternutrients demonstrate that there is a special synergism with theingredients of the inventive fertilizer that is not seen when only ureais used. This synergism needs the correct levels of starter nutrients toreach its full potential. 4) Supplying additional starter nutrients forthe KBC-3.5 formulation showed a dramatic and unexpected increase inyield (50%) over the same formulation without the additional starternutrients. Additional starter nutrients used with the SBC-3.5formulation provided only a 5.1% increase in yield over the rice grownwith the SBC-3.5 formulation using the lower levels of starter nutrient.This indicates that the KBC-3.5 was limited by a nutrient that was notas limited for the SBC-3.5. Since the KBC-3.5 formulation received lesspotassium at planting than the SBC-3.5 formulation received, the testindicates limited availability of early potassium for the KBC-3.5formulation. 5) The present fertilizer benefits can still be seen thesecond year when rice is grown in the soil that was previously givenSBC-3.5 fertilizer and used to grow rice. When urea was used tofertilize rice grown in this soil, the yield showed a 26% increase overrice grown with urea in untreated soil that did not previously receivethe inventive fertilizer.

Example 6: Comparing Use of Carbohydrates in the Novel Fertilizer

During the same tests as Example 5, rice was also grown in thegreenhouse for Example 6 Tests. These tests were grown at the same timeas the Example 5 tests and used the same processed top soil that wasused for the Example 5 Tests. Example 6 Tests were also performed withfive replicates of each. Starter fertilizers were used as explained inExample 5. The starter fertilizer for Example 6 applications are listedin Table 25.

TABLE 25 Starter Fertilizers for Example 6. Triple Super Phosphate UreaKCl ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O MgSO₄ · 7H₂O Boric Acid CuSO₄ · 5H₂O (g per (g per (gper (g per (g per (g per (g per container) container) container)container) container) container) container) 3.58 0.50 2.76 1.04 16.60.0165 0.220

For Example 6, the nitrogen sources and inorganic ingredients anddesignations are as explained in Example 5. The formulations for each ofthe Example 6 Tests are given in Table 26A and Table 26B. For theExample 6 Tests, package granules (PG) were used instead ofsupergranules. These packaged granules were made by weighing out theappropriate formulation and placing them in a water permeable bag thatwas then buried beneath the surface of the soil 7.6-10.1 cm (3-4 inches)deep after the soil was flooded when the rice plants reached the fourleaf stage as described in Example 5. In addition to the inorganicingredients, the package granules also contained carbohydrates likecornstarch, rice starch, sucrose, and glucose. These carbohydrates wereapplied at various energy levels referred to as level 1, level 2, andlevel 3 where level 1 was the lowest energy and level 3 was the highest.

TABLE 26 Fertilizer Formulations for Example 6 2.1b 2.2a-1 2.2a-2 2.2a-32.1a (U-1) (SBC-3.5) (SBC-3.5) (SBC-3.5) Compound (SBC-3.5) Weight (g)Urea 12.75 25.50 12.75 12.75 12.75 Ammonium 33.12 0.00 33.12 33.12 33.12Bicarbonate Sodium 71.40 0.00 71.40 71.40 71.40 Bicarbonate Corn Starch0.00 0.00 1.40 4.20 7.00 Total Weight 117.27 25.50 118.67 121.47 124.27(g) Weight per 11.73 2.55 11.87 12.15 12.43 Container (g) FertilizerFormulations for Example 6, Cont. 2.2a-4 2.2a-5 2.2a-6 2.2b-5 2.4 (U-1)(U-1) (U-1) (U-1) (SBC-3.5) Compound Weight (g) Urea 25.50 25.50 25.5025.50 12.75 Ammonium 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 33.12 Bicarbonate Sodium 0.000.00 0.00 0.00 71.40 Bicarbonate Sucrose 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.10 CornStarch 1.40 4.20 7.00 0.00 2.10 Total Weight 29.70 29.70 32.50 29.90121.47 (g) Weight per 2.97 2.97 3.25 2.99 12.15 Container (g)

The timing of fertilizer placement followed the same methods asdescribed in Example 5 as well as the watering of the containers. Drypanicle weights per container for each set of tests were measured andare reported in Table 27.

TABLE 27 Dry Panicle Weights per Container for Example 6 SBC-3.5 U-1Avg. Max Avg. Max Dry Dry Dry Dry Method of Wgt. Wgt. Wgt. Wgt. TestLabel Formulation Application (g) (g) (g) (g) 2.1a, 2.1b No PG 91.4 95.990.1 96.5 carbohydrates 2.2a-1, Level 1 PG 95.1 99.4 79.9 83.7 2.2a-4Cornstarch 2.2a-2, Level 2 PG 97.0 104.1 85.6 92.3 2.2a-5 Cornstarch2.2a-3, Level 3 PG 93.3 93.4 82.6 87.1 2.2a-6 Cornstarch 2.4 Level 2 PG114.6 133.5 N/A N/A Cornstarch and Sucrose Combination

Conclusions from experimental evidence: 1) Supplying a combination ofsugar and cornstarch in the inventive fertilizer increased the yield byup to 38% over using urea alone. 2) For some examples, supplyingcarbohydrates with urea alone decreased the yield. 3) The unexpectedincrease in yield with the inventive fertilizer that is not seen whencarbohydrates are used with urea alone indicates that the energy fromthe carbohydrates is an important component to the synergism between theingredients of the inventive fertilizer. 4) Supplying extra energy inthe form of carbohydrates to the roots of rice plants along with thecarbon dioxide in the fertilizer increases the yield of the rice. Thesetests show the increase in yield to be up to 38% as compared to ricegrown with urea alone in the package granule.

Example 7: Comparing the Use of Wax with No Wax and Package Granuleswith Tablets

For Example 7 Tests, rice was grown in the greenhouse in containers asdescribed previously and using the same processed top soil giving soilanalyses R9.1, R9.2, and R9.3 in Table 20A and Table 20B. The starternutrients were applied as described in Example 6 using the starternutrients and amounts per container shown in Table 28.

TABLE 28 Starter Fertilizer for Example 7. Triple Super ZnSO₄ · MgSO₄ ·Boric CuSO₄ · Phosphate Urea KCl 7H₂O 7H₂O Acid 5H₂O Test Labelg/container 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.5a-1, 3.58 0.50 2.76 1.04 16.6 0.0165 0.2202.5a-2, 2.5b-1, 2.5b-2, 2.5b-3x 2.1c, 2.5a-3, 3.58 0.50 0.559 1.04 16.60.0165 0.220 2.5b-3

The formulations for the fertilizers for each test are shown in Table29. These fertilizers were placed beneath the soil surface as eithersupergranules (SG) as described in Example 5 or as package granules (PG)as described in Example 6. The following parameters were used for thetests for Example 7: 1) The package granules for 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.1ccontained only the inorganic ingredients of their formulation (urea,ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate) but nowax, carbohydrates, or stearates. 2) The package granules for 2.5a-1,2.5a-2, and 2.5a-3 contained the inorganics ingredients as well as wax,but nothing else. 3) 2.5b-1, 2.5b-2, and 2.5b-3 contained the sameingredients as 2.5a-1, 2.5a-2, and 2.5a-3 respectively but werecompressed into tablets.

TABLE 29 Fertilizer Formulations for Example 7 2.5a-3, 2.5b-3, 2.5a-1,2.5a-2, 2.5b-3x 2.1a 2.1b 2.1c 2.5b-1 2.5b-2 (KBC- (SBC-3.5) (U-1)(KBC-3.5) (SBC-3.5) (U-1) 3.5) Compound Weight (g) Urea 12.75 25.5012.75 12.75 25.50 12.75 Ammonium 33.12 0.00 33.12 33.12 0.00 33.12Bicarbonate Sodium 71.40 0.00 0.00 71.40 0.00 0.00 Bicarbonate Potassium0.00 0.00 85.00 0.00 0.00 85.00 Bicarbonate Paraffin Wax 0.00 0.00 0.0018.10 18.10 18.10 Corn Starch 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Total Weight(g) 117.27 25.50 130.87 135.37 43.60 148.97 Weight per 11.73 2.55 13.0913.54 4.36 14.90 Container (g)

The dry panicle weights per container for the Example 7 tests are shownin Table 30.

TABLE 30 Average Dry Panicle weights per Container for Example 7 SBC-3.5KBC-3.5 Method of Avg. Dry Avg. Dry Test Label Formulation ApplicationWgt. (g) Wgt. (g) 2.1a, 2.1c, 2.1b Package granules PG 74.2 66.7 nocarbohydrates, no paraffin wax 2.5a-1, 2.5a-3, Package granules PG 74.760.9 2.5a-2 with paraffin wax but no carbohydrates 2.5b-1, 2.5b-3,Tablets with SG 76.6 57.3 2.5b-2 paraffin wax but no carbohydrates N/A,2.5b-3x, Tablets with SG N/A 89.1 N/A paraffin wax and extra starterpotassium

The following conclusions can be drawn from the test results: 1)Paraffin wax does not provide an early energy source or early carbon toincrease yield. 2) When potassium bicarbonate is supplied in acompressed tablet, the potassium availability is limited. 3) Increasingthe starter potassium overcomes the limited availability of potassiumand increases the yield.

Example 8: Nitrogen Levels in Rough Rice

Nitrogen levels in the rough rice from several tests was analyzed in thelaboratory to check for protein levels in the grain. The rice analyzedincluded Test 8.2 of Example 5 and Test 2.4 of Example 6. For Examples5-7, the rice was planted at the same time, randomly placed in thegreenhouse, grown under the same conditions, given the same level ofstarter nutrients, and harvested at the same time. Table 31 shows theaverage weight percent of nitrogen measured in the rough rice and thetotal nitrogen uptake by the rough rice. The total nitrogen uptake bythe rough rice was found by multiplying the weight percent of nitrogenmeasured by the weight of the rough rice harvested for that test.

TABLE 31 Rough Rice Nitrogen Weight Percent % % Total DifferenceDifference Nitrogen in Total Test Application Nitrogen in Protein UptakeNitrogen Label Formulation Type Wgt. % Levels (g) Uptake  2.4 SBC-3.5with Level 2 Cornstarch PG 1.28 12.3% 1.71 76.3% and Sucrose Combination 8.2 U-1 Supergranules with 13% SG 1.14 Baseline 0.97 Baseline wax, 1%cornstarch, stearic acid, and magnesium stearate 13.2b Urea flooded inat 1.5 times the Granules 1.30 12.3% 1.45 49.5% level of nitrogen in 8.2Flooded in 70/30

The following conclusions can be reached from the experimentalevidence: 1) As seen previously in Example 3 Table 30, the inventivefertilizer increased the protein levels in the rough rice as compared torice grown with recommended levels of urea. For this test, the inventivefertilizer increased the protein levels in the rice by 13% as comparedto rice grown with the same level of nitrogen as using urea. 2)Increasing the nitrogen applied over what is typically recommended alsoincreased the protein levels in rice. 3) The total nitrogen uptake inthe rice grain was 49.5% more for rice grown with 50% more nitrogen asurea. This increase is what would be expected. 4) The total nitrogenuptake in the rice grain for the inventive fertilizer receiving lowerlevels of nitrogen was unexpectedly much higher at up to 76.3% more.This shows that the inventive fertilizer provides a special synergismthat dramatically improves the nitrogen efficiency of the fertilizer.

Following all of these tests, our new understanding of the fertilizerand synergies involved show that under the right conditions, ourinventive fertilizer can increase the yield for many crops that are notgrown in a water regime such as corn, wheat, cotton, barley, cassava andmore.

While only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that thereare many possible variations and modifications which can be made in theexemplary embodiments while yet retaining many of the novel andadvantageous features of this invention. Accordingly, it is intendedthat the following claims cover all such modifications and variations.

1. A slow release fertilizer comprising: a nitrogen source comprising acombination of 2 to 75 wt % urea and 10 to 85 wt % ammonium bicarbonate;a carbohydrate in an amount of 1 to 35 wt %; and at least one alkalibicarbonate in an amount of 10 to 80 wt % selected from the groupconsisting of potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or a mixture ofpotassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate, wherein the slow-releasefertilizer is in a solid or semi-solid form, and the wt % is based onthe total weight of the slow-release composition.
 2. The fertilizer ofclaim 1, wherein the nitrogen source comprises at least one of ureaammonium nitrate (UAN), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and diammoniumphosphate (DAP).
 3. The fertilizer of claim 1 wherein the nitrogensource comprises at least one selected from the group consisting ofureaform, urea formaldehyde, methylene urea, methylene diurea anddimethylenetriurea.
 4. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein thecarbohydrate comprises at least one of a starch or a sugar.
 5. Thefertilizer of claim 4, wherein the starch is selected from the groupconsisting of corn starch, rice starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch,cassava starch, and potato starch.
 6. The fertilizer of claim 4, whereinthe sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose,fructose, maltose, galactose, and lactose.
 7. The fertilizer of claim 4,wherein the sugar is corn syrup.
 8. The fertilizer of claim 1, whereinthe fertilizer is in the form of a tablet or granule having a diameterof 0.15-5.10 cm.
 9. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer isin the form of a package having a diameter of 0.15-5.10 cm.
 10. Thepackage of claim 9, wherein the package is biodegradable.
 11. Thefertilizer of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer is a blend of granules ortablets.
 12. The fertilizer of claim 1, further comprisingbio-degradable binders, lubricants, glidants, and antiadherents.
 13. Thefertilizer of claim 1, wherein the amount of urea is 2 to 55 wt % andthe amount of ammonium bicarbonate is 10 to 65 wt %.
 14. The fertilizerof claim 1, wherein the amount of urea is 5 to 45 wt % and the amount ofammonium bicarbonate is 15 to 55 wt %.
 15. The fertilizer of claim 1,wherein the nitrogen source further comprises at least one of ammoniumsulfate, and ammonium nitrate.
 16. The fertilizer of claim 1, whereinthe slow release fertilizer is a synergistic composition.
 17. Thefertilizer of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer provides an increase inprotein in the product.
 18. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein thefertilizer is a slow release synergistic composition and provides anincrease in rice yield by at least 50% compared to rice grown withoutthe slow release synergistic composition.
 19. The fertilizer of claim 1,wherein the fertilizer is a slow release synergistic composition andprovides increased protein in rice product by at least 2% compared torice grown without the slow release synergistic composition.
 20. Thefertilizer of claim 1, wherein the slow release fertilizer provides aslow release of bicarbonate to water over a period of from 1 day to 21days after application to a root zone of a plant at a pH of from 6.5 to10 so that the roots of the plant absorbs the bicarbonate or carbondioxide from the water over the period of from 1 day to 21 days fromapplication to the root zone.
 21. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein thefertilizer is a slow release synergistic composition and provides anincrease in rice yield by at least 100% compared to rice grown withoutthe slow release synergistic composition.
 22. The fertilizer of claim 1,wherein the amount of urea is 2 to 55 wt % and the amount of ammoniumbicarbonate is 10 to 65 wt % and the at least one alkali bicarbonate isin the amount of 15 to 55 wt % selected from the group consisting ofpotassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate, or a combination ofpotassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate wherein the slow releasefertilizer is in a solid or semi-solid form and the carbohydrate is atleast one of a starch or a sugar in an amount of 1.4 to 10.0 wt %. 23.The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer provides an increasedyield of a crop that is not grown in a water regime wherein the crop isselected from the group corn, wheat, cotton, barley, cassava, sugarbeets, energy grasses, and other crops.
 24. The fertilizer of claim 1,wherein the fertilizer is a slow release synergistic composition and thefertilizer provides increased uptake of nitrogen by rice by up to 100%more than expected because of a synergism that dramatically improves thenitrogen efficiency of the fertilizer over fertilizer without the slowrelease synergistic composition.
 25. The fertilizer of claim 1 whereinthe fertilizer is a slow release synergistic composition and thefertilizer provides an increased yield for plants grown in a waterregime selected from the group of rice, wild rice, sugarcane, waterchestnut, lotus, taro, water spinach, watercress, water celery,arrowroot, sago, palm, nipa palm, marsh-type or Fen grasses.
 26. Thefertilizer of claim 1, wherein the carbohydrate is sucrose or cornstarch or a combination of sucrose and corn starch.